§ 50. Mr. Turtonasked the Lord President of the Council how many persons have been diagnosed as suffering from muscular dystrophy in the last five years, and what research is being conducted into the origin of and cure of this disease.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonWith regard to the first part of this Question, I am advised that figures are not available. Research on the muscular dystrophies forms an important part of the work of the Medical Research Council's Neurological Research Unit at the National Hospital, Queen Square, London.
§ Mr. TurtonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some 300 cases people have been told that this disease is incurable, whereas in some cases a cure has, in fact, been effected? As there appears to be a great lack of knowledge about this disease, will he encourage the medical profession to institute further research into the matter?
§ Mr. MorrisonCertainly; we will do all we can in the matter.
§ Mr. ChetwyndCan my right hon. Friend say whether any satisfactory results have been reached so far in this research?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am not in a position to say that yet, Sir.
§ Sir Richard AclandWould it be possible to indicate the volume of the research being carried on, for example, by saying how much it costs in a 12 month?
§ Mr. MorrisonNo, Sir. If I may say so, hon. Gentlemen are repeatedly wanting to know how much these things cost, as though that were an accurate measure of successful research. It cannot be measured by money. Brains come into it as well.
§ Sir R. AclandDoes my right hon. Friend appreciate that the amount of money provides a measure, if not a very adequate one, of the importance which the General Medical Council attaches to the hope of success?