§ Mrs. Currieasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what funding has been provided, both by central Government and others, for research into motor neurone disease, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenI have been asked to reply.
The Department's responsibilities for the support, of scientific research are discharged by the research councils, who receive annual grants-in-aid from the science budget.
I understand from the Medical Research Council that details of its funding for research into motor neurone disease in each of the past five financial years are as follows:
Research projects exclusively on MND Research projects in which MND is a minor component £ £ 1981–82 154,408 736,404 1982–83 193,703 739,473 1983–84 174,302 833,321 1984–85 173,609 1,116,469 1985–86 219,235 953,168 In addition I understand that the Science and Engineering Research Council is funding some research which could be relevant to our understanding of MND. The council has allocated £90,981 to this work between the financial years 1983–84 and 1986–87; a year by year breakdown of this figure is not available.
Research work relevant to MND may also be taking place in universities and medical schools financed from the block grant to universities allocated for teaching and research on advice from the University Grants Committee. The voluntary charitable organisations may also be funding some work. Details are not available in either case.