§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider making finance available to the Nuffield Institute of Comparative Medicine for a controlled study of the effects of diet on multiple sclerosis.
§ Mr. MoyleThe main Government funded body undertaking biomedical research, which would embrace such a study, is the Medical Research Council. The Council is supported mainly by the Department of Education and Science and the Health Departments. The Nuffield Institute of Comparative Medicine, like any other research body, may apply to the Council for support. It is for the Council to decide whether to approve an application on the grounds of scientific merit and in competition with other grant applications being considered.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to establish diagnostic centres for multiple sclerosis.
§ Mr. MoyleMultiple sclerosis is not an uncommon disease which may be diagnosed by doctors in various specialties in general hospitals. Additional expertise is available in regional neurological centres. I have no specific plans for changing this pattern of service provision.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what amount of money has been made available from Government funds for research into multiple sclerosis in the last 12 months; and how much will be available in the next 12 months.
§ Mr. MoyleThe Medical Research Council, supported by the Department of Education and Science and the Health Departments, are mainly responsible for Government funded research into multiple sclerosis. The Council estimates that its expenditure in 1976–77 directly related to the condition was £829,000. Expenditure in 1971–78 cannot be forecast because the Council does not make a specific allocation to research on any particular disease. It is always ready to consider new proposals for research. In addition to research372W directly related to the disease the Council also supports a substantial amount of work under other headings which may be of considerable relevance.
Research directly related to the disease and under other headings which may be of relevance is also undertaken in universities and medical schools, but details of the sums involved are not known centrally.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for the provision of more psysiotherapeutic help for sufferers from multiple sclerosis.
§ Mr. MoyleI recognise the importance of the contribution which physiotherapy can make to the treatment of sufferers from multiple sclerosis. Unfortunately, there has been a shortage of physiotherapists for many years, although there was a substantial increase in numbers following the implementation of the recommendations of the Halsbury Report. Further expansion of the remedial professions remains a priority. The deployment of physiotherapy resources between the various competing needs must be for local decision.