HC Deb 17 April 1967 vol 745 cc35-6W
Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will estimate the amount of money spent annually in this country from all sources on medical research;

(2) if he will estimate how much money is spent on medical research in the universities each year.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

Annual expenditure from Government sources is running currently at about£31 million. Of this sum approximately£17 million is estimated to be devoted to medical research out of the general grants made to the universities on the advice of the University Grants Committee. It is not possible to give a reliable estimate of expenditure by other bodies including the pharmaceutical industry and voluntary organisations.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the average cost per annum of one medical research worker, including his equipment and facilities.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

It is not practicable to give the average cost. Such a figure would moreover be misleading. Individual costs range widely according to such factors as the type of research and the equipment needed.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate how much money is available annually from the Medical Research Council for new research.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

While no sum is specifically designated for new research in the Medical Research Council's grant-in-aid, the Council regards itself as having a special responsibility to encourage research on new projects. This is achieved primarily by the setting up of research groups and by the award of research grants to individual scientists in universities and other bodies, but also through the creation of M.R.C. research units and the development of the programmes of the Council's existing establishments. In the financial year 1966–67 the Council's expenditure on new research groups and new short-term research grants was£330,000. Since it is not possible to draw a hard and fast line between the cost of new and of continuing work in the Council's own establishments, a figure for new developments in this sphere is not available.