§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the Government's total spending on medical research is directed at research into diseases of the lung.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe main agency through the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council–MRC–which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1993–94, the latest year for which figures are available, MRC expenditure on research wholly or partly related to respiratory diseases was £11.2 million, 4.53 per cent. of total expenditure of £247 million. In addition, the Department itself funds a range of research projects of relevance to respiratory diseases. A proportion of Government spending also goes on research into cancer of the lung.