§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list those establishments which currently receive funding through the Medical Research Council for investigations of the treatment of trauma caused by accident or injury; and, in the case of each establishment, what is the broad nature of the research being undertaken;
(2) what level of funding is currently available through the Medical Research Council for investigations of the treatment of trauma caused by accident or injury for each establishment that is currently in receipt of such funding.
§ Mr. WaldenI understand that the Medical Research Council is funding 38 projects on research into trauma, including projects which could prove relevant to an understanding of trauma. The projects span work carried out at MRC's own establishments and through grant398W support to universities. In the financial year 1984–85 the council's expenditure on this research amounted to £1.2 million. I will write to my hon. Friend with further details.
Details of the council's activities are listed in the Medical Research Council Handbook for 1984–85, a copy of which is available in the Library.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether funding through the Medical Research Council of the trauma unit at the University of Manchester is to be continued.
§ Mr. WaldenIt is for the Medical Research Council to decide how to apportion the grant-in-aid it receives from the Department's science budget between the various areas of science which it supports under the provisions of its charter. I understand that the council has not yet reached a decision about the future of its trauma unit.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many people are currently employed in Medical Research Council units in England and Wales, and how many of these employees are in the north-west region;
(2) if he will state the total number of Medical Research Council units in England and Wales; and how many of these units are located in the north-west region.
§ Mr. WaldenI understand that the Medical Research Council has 48 units in England and Wales which employ 2,812 people. Of these, two units employing 36 people are located in the north-west region.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will review the operation of the Medical Research Council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenNo. The Advisory Board for the Research Councils advises my right hon. Friend on a continuing basis on the operation of all the research councils, including the Medical Research Council.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his policy concerning the geographic location of Medical Research Council units.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will examine and report on the geographical distribution of grants by the Medical Research Council.
§ Mr. WaldenThe geographical location of the work which the Medical Research Council funds is a matter for the scientific judgment of the council.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the distribution, nature and purposes of grants by the Medical Research Council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenSince 1 January 1985 the Department has received 23 representations from hon. Members and other interested parties about the distribution, nature and purposes of grants funded by the Medical Research Council.