§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received regarding additional funding for research into the causes of, and cure for,(a) ME and (b) MS; and if he will make a statement. [121353]
§ Yvette CooperThe information is as follows:
Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME)
We have recently received representations in the form of Ministerial correspondence about provision for research into, and treatment of, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and the perceived lack of research into diagnosis and treatment for this condition.
The National Health Service research and development programme is currently supporting the following research projects on CFS/ME:
A systematic review to determine the clinical effectiveness of treatments and interventions for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME—University of YorkFamily Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome—King's College School of Medicine, LondonChronic Fatigue Syndrome after Acute Q Fever: A follow-up study of the 1989 outbreak cohort—Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, BirminghamA randomised controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome—GKT School Medical School, London.Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
The Department has recently received a large amount of correspondence from the public asking that additional funding be made available for research into the causes of and cure for multiple sclerosis (MS). There has also been some Ministerial correspondence and a Parliamentary Question which asked about treatment and research into multiple sclerosis during 1999.
462WThe Medical Research Council supported about a dozen projects on multiple sclerosis and associated demyelinating diseases in 1998–99 representing a spend of approximately £640,000 in that year.
The Department funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in the National Health Service. The Department is currently spending approximately £150,000 per year on projects related to MS.
In addition, we have awarded the MS Society £15,000 per year from 1997–98 until 1999–2000 under the Section 64 scheme of grants, for their emerging therapies project.