Psoriasis and Acne (Hansard, 10 May 1993)

§ 30. Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what support he gives to research on psoriasis and acne, and other related dermatological topics; and what representations he has had in relation to such research from the National Eczema Society.

§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science (Mr. Robert Jackson)
The main agency through which the Government support research into skin disease is the Medical Research Council. In the financial year 1991–92, the MRC's expenditure on research directly relevant to psoriasis and other dermatological disorders was more than £2.3 million.

§ Mr. Dalyell
As one who was a spotty teenager, greatly embarrassed by acne during my national service, may I ask the Government sympathetically to monitor the representations that have been put forward, on supposedly relatively minor disorders, by the National Eczema Society? What is the Government's response on the effort on research of the limited list procedures put forward to them by Rona MacKie, professor of dermatology at the university of Glasgow, and John Hunter, head of the big dermatology department in Edinburgh?

§ Mr. Jackson
To look at the hon. Gentleman's elegant countenance, one would never have thought that he was a spotty youth. The Government are aware of those concerns. It is necessary to balance the costs and the benefits to patients, to the industry and the taxpayer. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs will look this summer at all the dermatological drugs available on the NHS and will take into account the perspective to which he referred.

§ Mr. Anthony Coombs
Will my hon. Friend confirm that over the past 10 years there has been a significant increase in asthma and eczema cases and other atopic illnesses? Does he agree that that may be linked to environmental factors relating to car pollution? Will he therefore liaise with his colleagues in the Department of the Environment to make sure that any research carried out takes cognisance of that fact?

§ Mr. Jackson
I will draw those comments to the attention of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The Medical Research Council is at arm's length from the Government—it makes decisions about priorities—but it is important that it should reflect on that important aspect, and I will ensure that it is aware of what has been said.