HC Deb 05 May 1983 vol 42 cc149-50W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in each of the last five years how much his Department spent on supporting research into (a) deafness and (b) tinnitus; in each year how many projects were supported; and how many of them were new ones in that year.

Mr. Rossi

The information requested is as follows. It covers research carried put in England and Wales.

1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82
Deafness
Expenditure on research (£000s) 69.8 54.1 64.9 91.9 113.1
Number of projects supported 10 9 8 9 5
Number of new projects started 6 2 0 1 1
Tinnitus
Expenditure on research (£000s) - - - 4.1 13.5
Number of projects supported - - - 1 1
Number of new projects started - - - 1 0

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the money spent by his Department in supporting research goes on work related to (a) deafness, (b) blindness, (c) physical disability and (d) mental disability.

Mr. Rossi

The proportions of DHSS spending in 1981–82* on research on health and personal social services and social security for these areas are as follows:

Per cent.
Deafness 0.8
Blindness 0.8
Other forms of physical disability 7.3
Mental Handicap 6.3
Mental Illness 8.4

Total spending on HPSS and social security research in 1981–82 was £13,899 million.

* The latest year for which outturn figures are at present available.