Cystic Fibrosis (Hansard, 19 April 2002)

§ Jacqui Smith

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is the main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease and receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The expenditure figures from 1992 to 1997 are not available. The MRC spend in each year from 1997 to 2001 is shown below:

1997–1998—£1.8 million
1998–1999—£1.9 million
1999–2000—£1.8 million
2000–2001—£1.5 million

The Department funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in health and social care. The Department's expenditure since 1995 on directly commissioned research projects relating to cystic fibrosis is as follows:

1995–1996—£143,100
1996–1997—£50,300
1997–1998—£40,800
1998–1999—£8,300
1999–2000—£113,900
2000–2001—£71,700

In addition to specific projects, the Department also provides support funding for research commissioned by charities and the research councils that takes place in the NHS. Management of much of the research supported by National Health Service research and development funding is devolved and expenditure at project level is not held centrally by the Department but the total investment is considerably greater than just the spend on directly commissioned projects.

The MRC current support for cystic fibrosis includes work on gene therapy for cystic fibrosis.

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It is not possible to predict what the future total level of Government expenditure will for cystic fibrosis research as new research proposals are regularly being considered and commissioned.

The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for research into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands in funding. Awards are made according to their scientific quality and importance to human health.