§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) conducted and (b) evaluated into the causes of mesothelioma; how much his Department has spent on researching mesothelioma in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [51899]
§ Mr. BoatengThe main agency through which the Government support bio-medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology, which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC has not supported any research, in the last five years, specifically to evaluate the causes of mesothelioma. However, it does provide support for more basic research in related areas which may provide insights into the aetiology of mesothelioma and have an impact on treatment in the future. For example, the MRC Toxicology Unit at Leicester has been working on projects to better understand the cellular mechanisms by which the lung responds to certain toxic materials. These include many toxins that circulate throughout the body and yet cause selective injury to particular types of lung cell, as well as inhaled mineral fibres such as asbestos and zeolites.
In addition, the MRC's Committee on Toxic Hazards in the Environment and Workplace produced a report in 1995 (ISBN 1 899110 03 8) entitled "Natural and man-made mineral fibres: UK research priorities"—this was based on workshops organised by the Institute for Environmental Health. This report considers, inter alia, mesothelioma. It is available from the Institute of Environment and Health, University of Leicester, PO Box 138, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 9HN (telephone 0116 252 5530 or fax 0116 252 5146).