§ Mr. Sainsburyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the annual expenditure in total and per head of population during the year 1973–74 on research into mental health in the United Kingdom; and what proportion of the expenditure of the Medical Research Council went into research into all forms of mental illness.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerI have been asked to reply.
Expenditure by the Medical Research Council in 1973–74 into all forms of mental illness was £2.391 million. This amount, which represents some 9.8 per cent. of the council's total expenditure, is about 4p per head of the population. Additional research supported by public funds but whose cost is not readily identifiable is carried out under the auspices of the health departments, hospital boards, universities and medical schools. Support is also given by several voluntary agencies.