§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if lie will publish the provisions made by Her Majesty's Government for research into physical factors of mental illness; if he is satisfied with the amount of research work being done in this field; if he will increase the aid given by his Department for this work to both Government and voluntary research organisations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonNone of my Department's research monies are specifically earmarked for research into the physical factors of mental illness. We are currently spending some £140,000 per annum on research into mental illness, of which about one-third is devoted to mental illness in which physical factors may have a significant part.
277WResearch in this field is primarily basic and the Government agency mainly responsible is the Medical Research Council which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science. The Medical Research Council is currently spending about £1,600,000 per annum—10 per cent. of the total budget—on research in mental illness; a detailed breakdown of this figure is not available but it covers a wide programme with increasing emphasis on the biochemical, neurobiological and other physical aspects of mental illness.
Research by my Department in this field is expanding—this year we are spending half as much again as last year and I expect this trend to continue. We regard this as satisfactory.
My Department does not make grants to voluntary research organisations but is always prepared to consider applications from them for the support of particular projects.