§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what grants have been made available by his Department to the Motor Neurone Disease Association since 1983; whether consideration is being given to the long-term funding of research into motor neurone disease; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloIn 1986 the Department awarded the Motor Neurone Disease Association a three-year grant at £10,000 per year under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 in support of its patient care services. In 1984–85 the association was given a grant of £6,000 towards the cost of a computer.
The main Government-funded agency for the promotion of medical and related biomedical research in this country is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science. I understand that the council is currently carrying out research into this disease and is always prepared to consider further soundly based scientific proposals for funding through its grants scheme in competition with other applications.