§ Mr. Boydenasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science (1) what is the total number of qualified medical doctors and supporting staff with their categories, respectively, currently employed full time on medical research in Great Britain by the National Health Service, by other public authorities, by universities and by private bodies, respectively;
(2) how many qualified medical doctors are employed full time by the National Health Service, by other public authorities, by universities, and by private bodies, respectively, on research into cancer, heart diseases and tuberculosis, respectively.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethThese questions relate to full time medical research workers. But much of this research, for instance in teaching hospitals, is carried out by workers who spend part of their time teaching. This is in accordance with my noble Friend's general view that scientific research of all kinds should not be wholly divorced from teaching.
Even with the limitation of the Questions to full time workers, it is not, however, possible to give comprehensive replies. A survey of scientific manpower is now in progress, which for the first time includes an inquiry relating to the manpower engaged in medical research, including the National Health Service.
With regard to the staff for which my noble Friend is responsible, the Medical Research Council on 1st January, 1962, employed 189 qualified medical doctors on full-time medical research (of whom nineteen were carrying out research on cancer, eleven were employed on research on heart disease and eight were employed on research on tuberculosis) and 2,221 other staff (500 were scientifically qualified, 235 were technical officers, 771 were technicians, 462 were administrative staff, and 253 on maintenance duties).
The staff figures of M.R.C. by no means indicate the Council's total effort in medical research, since research is also undertaken in institutions receiving block grants from the Council (e.g. the Institute of Cancer Research), in the Council's Research Groups (whose staff are employed by the host institution on a reimbursement basis) and by indepen 82W dent scientific workers who are in receipt of temporary research grants. In addition, research on cancer, heart diseases and tuberculosis is carried out by scientific staff who are not medically qualified; and some of the basic research supported by the Council, although it cannot be included in the three categories, may ultimately provide information which may be of great value in the study of these diseases.