§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what has been the total support by the Medical Research Council for research into (a) multiple sclerosis, (b) cystic fibrosis and (c) muscular dystrophy in each of the past five years;
(2) if he will make special funding available for the extension of research into multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy.
§ Mr. William SheltonIt is for the Medical Research Council to decide on priorities for fundamental medical research within the cash sums allocated to it annually from the science budget. Those sums are determined by my right hon. Friend with advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils. The MRC has in recent years supported a considerable volume of work relevant to multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy. I shall write to the right hon. Member with such information relating to expenditure on this work as is available.