§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much the Government will be spending in the current year on research into the causes of schizophrenia; if he has any plans to increase this amount; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenThe Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its grant-in-aid through the Department, is the main Government agency for the promotion of medical research in the United Kingdom. I understand that in the financial year 1985–86, the latest year for which information is available, the MRC spent £525,000 on projects exclusively on research into schizophrenia and a further £1,573,000 on projects which have schizophrenia as a minor component. The MRC is always willing to consider soundly based scientific proposals in competition with other applications.
Research work relevant to schizophrenia is also being conducted in universities and medical schools, financed from the block grant to universities allocated for teaching and research on advice from the University Grams Committee. Figures are not available.
I would also refer the right. hon. Member to my reply of 1 July at c. 469 to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson).