§ Mr. David Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 469, when he expects the schizophrenia and allied conditions committee of the Medical Research Council to report on opportunities for future research.
§ Mr. WaldenThe Medical Research Council hopes that the schizophrenia and allied conditions committee will report back to the council's neurosciences board during the next academic year.
§ Mr. David Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of his Department's grant-in-aid to the Medical Research Council is spent on (a) mental health in general and (b) schizophrenia in particular; what are the relevant sums in the current year.
§ Mr. WaldenIt is for the Medical Research Council to determine its priorities from within the annual grant-in-aid which it receives from the Department's science budget. I understand that in the financial year 1985–86 the MRC spent from its budget £9.1 million on research exclusively on mental health (including addiction) which accounts for 8 per cent. of the council's budget. Out of its expenditure on mental health research the council spent £525,000 on research exclusively on schizophrenia, which accounts for 0.5 per cent. of the council's budget. I understand that the MRC is also funding other work in which mental health and schizophrenia are minor components.