§ 34. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Minister of Health what is his estimate of the amounts spent on medical research 925 in the years 1955, 1960, and 1965, respectively; and what steps he is taking to increase this research.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe approximate amounts spent by my Department on medical research in England and Wales were as follows:
| £ | ||||
| 1955–56 | … | … | … | 28,000 |
| 1960–61 | … | … | … | 131,000 |
| 1965–66 | … | … | … | 685,000 |
| (estimated) |
§ I hope to continue to increase this provision. The main responsibility for allocating funds for medical research lies with the Medical Research Council.
§ Mr. RobertsWhile I welcome the increased amount spent on research, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he does not agree that it is now high time to break away completely from the miserly attitude of our Tory predecessors? Would he further agree that some of the millions of pounds wasted on armaments could be transferred to meet this human need?
§ Mr. RobinsonI can only repeat that, so far as my Department is concerned, I hope to continue increasing the provision.
§ Dr. WinstanleyHas the right hon. Gentleman noticed the growth in the number of professionally-sponsored organisations which are set up purely to raise money for research into such matters as congenital heart disease and leukemia? Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that this growth represents a failure on the part of official sources to provide enough money for research?
§ Mr. RobinsonNo, I would not agree with that. I think this is probably more a question for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.