§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research she is conducting into the rare conditions in which amphetamines are thought to be medically irreplaceable.
§ Mrs. ThatcherAt the present time there are no known alternatives to amphetamines in the treatment of a few rare conditions, notably narcolepsy and a behavioural disorder in children known as the hyperkinetic syndrome. Advances in the treatment of these conditions are likely to result only from fundamental research on the central nervous system, in particular on brain chemistry. Such fundamental research is being carried out 335W with support from government funds under the auspices of the Medical Research Council both in their own establishments and through their research grant schemes. In addition a number of university departments of neurology, biochemistry and psychiatry are engaged in research that might well lead to advances in the treatment of these conditions.