Written question asked by Countess of Mar (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Conservative) on Monday, 6 June 2011 on behalf of the UK Statistics Authority.

Health: Cancer

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the comparative rates for the occurrence of all cancers in airline crews, farmers, and Gulf War Veterans as a percentage of the whole population within the age range 25 to 55 years for each of the past 10 years.

Answer: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for ONS, to the Countess of Mar dated June 2011. As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question, asking what are the comparative rates for occurrence of all cancers in airline crews, farmers and Gulf War Veterans as percentage of the whole population within the age range 25 to 55 years for each of the past 10 years. [HL9624] The information requested is not available, as occupation is not routinely recorded on individual cancer registrations. ONS publishes figures on the comparative risk of death from various causes, including cancer, by occupational group. These reports are available on the National Statistics web site at: www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vink=1624 The Health and Safety Executive publishes information on certain cancers which are linked to occupational exposures. The latest report is available at: www.hse. gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr800.htm. The latest published figures on the incidence of cancer in England are available on the National Statistics website at: www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme health/mbl-39/mbl-no39-2008.pdf.

Secondary information