HC Deb 09 April 2003 vol 403 cc314-5W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the top 15 tourist attractions in Lancashire and the attendance figures for each attraction in each of the last six years. [107953]

Dr. Howells

The top15 tourist attractions in Lancashire as listed by the North West Tourist Board are shown as follows. With regard to attendance figures, attractions are under no obligation to the Tourist Board to provide such figures but these are shown where available over the last six years. I should point out that in some cases figures are provided but on the understanding that they are not published hence those shown as 'confidential'. Figures for 2002 are not yet available.

indicates there may be a risk of the transmission of alpha-antitrpsin (AAT) deficiency, screening for the disorder will usually be carried out.

Guidelines on appropriate genetic tests for sperm donors have been produced by the British Andrology Society and incorporated into the HFEA code of practice.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has carried out into AAT Deficiency; and what funds he makes available for research. [106609]

Ms Blears

The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its funding from the Department of Trade and Industry, via the Office of Science and Technology. The MRCs total expenditure in 2001–02 was £413 million. The MRC has supported a number of research projects looking into the genetics and function of alphalantitrypsin (AAT) in the past few years and is currently providing a programme grant to examine new therapies for AAT deficiency and associated diseases. This is "Strategies to prevent cirrhosis and dementia by blocking serpin polymerisation in vivo", by Professor David Lomas at the University of Cambridge.

The Department funds research to support policy and delivery of effective practice in health and social care. The Department is not currently funding any research into AAT deficiency. The Department also provides funding to support research commissioned by the research councils and the charities that is undertaken in the National Health Service, and invested more than £500 million on research in 2001–02. The Department has a programme of research on genetics and has recently funded the creation of five genetics knowledge parks in England.