§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the higher incidence of neural tube defects of the foetus in the Celtic populations of the United Kingdom, if he will make finance available to investigate further this regional discrepancy.
Dr. YaughanThe Medical Research Council is the main Government-funded body supporting research into this condition from funds provided by the Department of Education and Science and the Health Departments.
The Health Departments have informed the council of the priority we attach to the need for more research into the methods for early detection of foetal abnormality and of screening for neural tube defects and other genetically determined conditions.
The Medical Research Council is already supporting research aimed directly at the condition and also more broadly-based research which may increase understanding of its cause.
The Health Departments is also supporting research into health services aspects of the condition.
The higher incidence of neural tube defects in babies born in the Celtic populations of the United Kingdom has been recognised for some years, and current and future research can be expected to cover this aspect.
Other research from Government funds is also being undertaken in universities and hospital medical schools.