HC Deb 22 February 1989 vol 147 cc671-2W
Mr. Peter Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has given to district health authorities to ensure the recognition of the problems of sufferers from myalgic encephalomyelitis and the co-ordination of their treatment.

Mr. Freeman

The Department has issued no guidance to district health authorities on myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Mr. Peter Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's latest estimate of the number of persons diagnosed as suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Mr. Freeman

I regret that no information is held centrally on which to base an estimate of the number of people diagnosed as suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Mr. Peter Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research programmes are supported by his Department into the problem of myalgic encephalomyelitis; and what is the the total of financial support in the current financial year.

Mr. Freeman

The Department is not funding research into myalgic encephalomyelitis. The Medical Research Council is the main agency through which the Government support clinical research; it receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science.