§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, to mark the International Year of Disabled People, he will take steps to encourage research into the prevention of strokes and heart disease; and if he will publish in the Official Report the amount of public expenditure allocated for these fields during the current financial year.
§ Dr. Vaughan[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1981]: This Department already encourages research in these fields. The Department is supporting a long-term heart disease prevention study costing some £10,000 in 1979–80 and £⅓million overall; and Medical Research Council (MRC) hypertension trial and regional heart study at the Wolfson research laboratories to the extent of about 213W £40,000 per annum. The main Government support for research in these fields is, however, through funds at present provided by the Health Departments and the Department of Education and Science to the MRC. I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science that in 1979–80, the latest year for which firm figures are available, the council spent some £96,000 and £2,151,000 respectively on research involving prevention of strokes and heart disease. We recognise the opportunity offered by the International Year of Disabled People and are ready to consider whether additional research can be commissioned within the availability of financial and scientific resources.