§ Mr. GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the latest progress in research into schizophrenia.
Mr. JacksonThe Medical Research Council's schizophrenia and allied conditions committee has reviewed the current state of research and has recently published its findings and recommendations. A copy of the committee's "Research into Schizophrenia" is held in the Library. The council's neurosciences and mental health board is now considering the recommendations.
§ Mr. GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of its 1987–88 budget the 83W Medical Research Council spent on research on (a) mental health and (b) schizophrenia; and what percentage these figures represent of the Medical Research Council's total budget.
Mr. JacksonI understand that in the last financial year, 1987–88, the Medical Research Council's expenditure on research specifically into mental health (including addiction) was £10.4 million, which represents 8 per cent. of its overall budget. The council's expenditure on schizophrenia was £461,000, or 0.3 per cent. of its budget. The MRC is also funding a range of other research which may be of relevance to mental health and schizophrenia.