BRITISH LUNG FOUNDATION

That this House is aware that annually in Britain approximately eight million UK citizens are affected by lung disease, respiratory health problems being the second biggest killer in the UK with annual death rates almost double the European average; notes that so far over 40 unhealthy lung conditions have been identified including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the umbrella term used to classify a number of related conditions which includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema and other small airway diseases, that themselves currently kill around 24,000 people every year, a figure higher than the death rates for bowel, breast and prostate cancers; is aware that 17 November 2010 has been designated as World COPD Day, a date chosen also by the British Lung Foundation to launch its Missing Millions Get Tested campaign, aimed at encouraging the estimated 3.7 million in the UK with COPD to register and if necessary receive treatment for their condition; congratulates this excellent organisation for its work; and calls on the Government to give whatever help it can in support of its worthy endeavours.