§ 108. Mr. Murrayasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the amount to be spent in 1969–70 by the Medical Research Council on research into mental illness; and what proportion of the total budget this represents.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsApproximately £726,000 on research into mental illness and £425,000 on related psychological studies. Together these sums represent 8.1 per cent. of the Council's total estimated recurrent expenditure for the financial year 1969–70. In addition, the programme of basic research in the biological sciences which is being carried out with the Council's support is likely to advance relevant knowledge.
109. Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the results so far of research by the Clinical Psychiatry Research Unit of the Medical Research Council on the valuation of a community mental health service, in which factors determining admission to mental hospital, the effects on the family of caring for mentally-ill patients and the outcome after two years are being assessed.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsA number of papers by the staff of the unit have already been published in accordance with the normal practice, in the medical and scientific journals. I am arranging for the relevant references to be sent to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the budget for 1968–69 of the neuro-psychiatric research unit of the Medical Research Council.
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§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsExpenditure (all recurrent) in the financial year 1968–69 was £108,379.
§ Dr. Shirley Summerskillasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much Government expenditure is involved in the study of psychiatric illness; and whether he intends to increase this amount in the next three years.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsIt is not possible to give the total sum. In 1969–70 the Medical Research Council expect to spend about £1.151 million and the Health Departments £130,000; but further Government funds, which cannot be isolated, will be spent in this field by the universities, medical schools and hospital boards. The proportion of research expenditure to be devoted to any particular subject in the next three years is a matter for the scientific judgment of the bodies concerned and cannot be accurately determined in advance.