§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has funded into the efficacy of evening primrose oil as a treatment for arthritis; in what circumstances evening primrose oil is available on prescription; if her Department intends to fund further research into the value of evening primrose oil for treatment of illness and disease; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is582W the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The MRC is always willing to consider soundly-based scientific proposals for research. Evening primrose oil is not available on prescription under the national health service.