§ Mr. David Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research work is being funded by public resources in the United Kingdom on the subject of immersion hypothermia in drowning.
§ Mrs. Currie[pursuant to her reply, 24 March 1987, c. 121]: 1 understand that the Ministry of Defence is investigating all stages of immersion, including cold shock and short and long term immersion, as part of a continuing programme. It is also studying mathematical modelling techniques for predicting survival in cold water.
I further understand that the Medical Research Council, which is the main Government-funded agency for the promotion of medical and related biological research in this country and receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science, has been supporting research into biochemical and physiological studies on accidental and occupational hypothermia and other effects of heat and cold which could prove relevant to the study of immersion hypothermia.