§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much is being spent on research into the causes, control and cure of epilepsy; whether any progress is being made; and whether accidental injury can be a causative factor.
§ Mr. MulleyIt is not possible to isolate the cost of research on epilepsy. As I indicated in my reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 3rd May—[Vol. 910, col. 270]—work in this field often forms part of wider programmes of neurobiological and allied research. Progress is being made not only in the development of new drugs for more effective control of the disorder but also in the techniques of controlling doses of those drugs to suit individual needs and to keep troublesome side effects to a minimum.
Although our understanding of the causes of epilepsy is far from complete it is known that it can follow infection or physical damage to the brain.