HC Deb 05 December 1984 vol 69 cc224-5W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will assess the total costs incurred by the Government as a consequence of the incidence of multiple sclerosis;

(2) what funds he is making available specifically for the relief of multiple sclerosis; and how these funds are to be dispensed.

Mr. Newton

Statutory services for people with multiple sclerosis form part of overall health and social services provision, and it is not possible to identify the expenditure devoted to particular categories of disabled people.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he is satisfied that his Department are sufficiently aware of research which is being carried out in other countries into the cause of multiple sclerosis and the development of new treatments and therapy programmes;

(2) what steps he has taken to encourage the international exchange of information on multiple sclerosis between his Department and overseas organisations; and what incentives he has provided for local health authorities and others to exchange information on multiple sclerosis with medical and scientific organisations abroad;

(3) what steps he has taken to monitor the progress of research into multiple sclerosis and the development of new treatments and therapies both in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

It is the responsibility of individual doctors, including our Department's professional medical advisers, to keep up to date with research and development, both in this country and abroad, relating to their particular fields of interest. This is done by keeping abreast of journals, by attending local, national and international conferences and seminars and meetings of professional bodies, by personal contact with other members of their specialty, and where appropriate by formal postgraduate training. We are confident that these established methods whereby medical and scientific knowledge is disseminated apply to developments in multiple sclerosis.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessments of the various needs of people with multiple sclerosis have been made in the last 10 years by his Department.

Mr. Newton

None. We have, however, just commissioned a national survey, one of the aims of which is to identify the needs of disabled people, including those suffering from multiple sclerosis.