§ Mr. Alexanderasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research is being done into the causes, treatment and possible cure of Friedreich's Ataxia; by what authorities and bodies; what are the results of such research so far; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungThe Medical Research Council (MRC) is supporting basic research which could reveal the underlying causes of the disease; in particular, it is funding a project at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith which is being carried out in collaboration with the MRC cell mutation unit, to investigate cellular sensitivity in neurological disease to agents causing DNA damage. It is suspected that hypersensitivity of skin fibroblasts may be implicated.