Written question asked by Jim Cousins (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 31 January 2001. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Wednesday, 31 January 2001 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she has received the conclusions of the World Health Organisation study on the possible increase of cancer rates in Southern Iraq; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she has received the conclusions of the World Health Organisation study on the possible increase of cancer rates in southern Iraq; and if she will make a statement. [146383] Clare Short: The World Health Organisation (WHO) have not yet undertaken this study. WHO's Head of Non-Communicable Diseases is in Baghdad this week, leading a team of experts in reviewing the Iraqi Ministry of Health's capacity in epidemiological surveillance, including their ability to monitor and register cancer, including leukaemia, across Iraq. We have offered WHO support for improving health information systems in Iraq and are discussing funding their proposed programme to build Iraqi capacity to monitor cancer epidemiology.

Secondary information