§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much funding is available for research in Alzheimer's disease in 1986–87; and what funds are available for research into the problems of senile dementia.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe main Government-funded body carrying out research in this field is the Medical Research Council from its annual grant-in-aid from the science Vote of the Department of Education and Science. Under these arrangements the council is funding research into Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia. The Department also spends some £12 million a year on research into health and social services. Research projects are chosen to meet the needs seen in the various services, though it is true that there is much competition for the funds available, from researchers with proposals which are of good quality. At present three studies are being supported into the problems of the elderly mentally infirm, including those with severe dementia, at a cost of some £140,000 a year.