HC Deb 18 July 1961 vol 644 cc1043-4
12. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what proposals he now has for improving and increasing medical research.

Mr. Denzil Freeth

The whole field of medical research is kept under review by the Medical Research Council which takes every opportunity of promoting new and promising lines of study. The Council's programme of research is continually expanding and its expenditure has more than trebled over the last ten years. There is every reason to believe that expenditure will continue to rise.

Mr. Pavitt

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that that Answer is totally unsatisfactory and that the United States are now spending about 4,000 million dollars on medical research? Is he aware that this is costing this country quite a lot in its bill for imported pharmaceutical products? Would the hon. Gentleman do something a little more than is indicated in his Answer?

Mr. Freeth

The hon. Member should recall that the Medical Research Council does not have a monopoly of medical research in this country. A great deal is carried out in the universities and the hospitals and by private organisations. Therefore, the expenditure by the Medical Research Council does not cover all the money that the nation spends on this research?

Mr. Pavitt

In view of that, would not the hon. Gentleman arrange for some planning and co-ordination instead of having this ramshackle arrangement for research?

Mr. Freeth

The duty of the Medical Research Council, which it carries out satisfactorily, is to review the nation's efforts in this field and make good the gaps which otherwise might be there.