§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will indicate the number of places and the amount of support being given directly or indirectly by his Department for clinical research into the acute effects of injury on the victims of trauma; if he intends giving additional resources to existing places of clinical research into trauma; if he will consider extending such aid to other areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Medical Research Council (MRC), which received its grant-in-aid through the Department, is the main government agency for the promotion of medical research in the United Kingdom. Within the purposes set out in its Royal Charter and taking account of any recommendations made by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on scientific priorities and direction, the MRC is effectively free to decide on its scientific priorities and on what initiatives it should take within the total sums allocated to it by my right hon. Friend. The council is, I understand, at present funding both directly and indirectly 25 projects on clinical research into the acute effects of trauma at 12 establishments in the United Kingdom. In the financial year 1983–84 the council spent approximately £1 million on this research.