Uffculme Psychiatric Research Unit

HC Deb 19 December 1955 vol 547 cc1647-8

36. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Minister of Health how many research workers are employed at the Uffculme Psychiatric Research Unit; how the unit is financed; and the estimated annual cost.

Mr. Iain Macleod

This unit, which is not yet fully in operation, is associated with All Saints Hospital and the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Birmingham. Both provide research workers and contribute to the cost. As the staff have other duties and the unit is not separately costed, I regret that the information asked for in the first and third parts of the Question is not available.

Mr. Robinson

In welcoming the establishment of this very valuable and interesting unit, may I ask whether the Minister is satisfied that the work of chemico-therapeutic research is being done on a sufficiently wide scale? Through his noble Friend the Lord President, would he not consider interesting perhaps the Medical Research Council in the project?

Mr. Macleod

I quite agree that this work is of very great importance. If the hon. Member would like fuller information about it, perhaps he would come and talk to a senior member of my staff, who would be very glad to discuss it with him.

Mr. E. Fletcher

Without commenting on the value of this unit, may I ask the Minister to bear in mind that the work it is doing is of interest not only to my hon. Friend, but to the whole House, and that any information which he publishes about it should be given in the OFFICIAL REPORT? Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the arrangements about the expense being shared between the university and the Ministry are sensible? Will he give an assurance that full public information will be given about the work that this unit is doing?

Mr. Macleod

If there is a desire for wider information about this unit, I will consider how best I can meet the need. This is a major piece of research, and I think it likely that it will come under the Medical Research Council as part of the reorganisation of clinical research, of which the hon. Member is aware.