HC Deb 13 February 1957 vol 564 cc192-3W
Mr. Collick

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what has been the amount of money spent by the Medical Research Council on research into the causes and cure of the rheumatic diseases in each of the years since 1945.

Mr. Vosper

The following are the figures:

£
1945–1946 2,100
1946–1947 3,600
1947–1948 4,200
1948–1949 4,700
1949–1950 5,300
1950–1951 11,300
1951–1952 16,400
1952–1953 21,900
1953–1954 27,400
1954–1955 27,400
1955–1956 30,800
1956–1957 28,700*
* estimate

Mr. Collick

asked the Minister of Health the estimated number of people in Britain suffering from rheumatism, arthritis, and kindred diseases; and what proportion of the population this figure represents.

Mr. Vosper

Precise figures are not available, but surveys in particular areas and other evidence suggest that the rate of incidence of the chronic rheumatic diseases may be between 2 and 4 per cent. of the population per annum.