HC Deb 07 May 1956 vol 552 cc817-8
30. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what plans he has for increasing the volume of research into mental illness, either through the Medical Research Council or through other agencies

Mr. Turton

Arrangements for the future support and development of major research projects in mental illness are at present under active consideration by the Medical Research Council, advised by the Clinical Research Board, in consultation with the Ministry of Health. The need for expanding work in this field is fully recognised and no opportunity will be lost of promoting further research on the subject

Mr. Robinson

Is the Minister aware that out of every £1 spent by the Medical Research Council about 2½d goes on research into mental illness? In view of that appallingly inadequate figure, can he give any assurance that this reconsideration will lead to improved results?

Mr. Turton

The main difficulty of expanding the volume of research into mental illness is the shortage of suitably trained and experienced research workers. The Medical Research Council has a scheme for the award of scholarships and fellowships for training in research methods, but good research workers cannot be found and trained overnight. That is the real difficulty

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