§ Mr. van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for encouraging more research into the cause and cures of rheumatic diseases.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe allocation of Government funds to different areas of medical research is a matter primarily for the scientific judgment of the Medical Research Council; and the Council already has in hand a considerable programme of research on rheumatic and related diseases. Further research is undertaken in university departments with support from Government and voluntary funds, and in a number of National Health Service hospitals and rheumatism centres. There is also a great deal of fundamental research in progress which may prove to be relevant to the problem.