Motor Neurone Disease

HC Deb 14 July 1989 vol 156 cc671-2W

Mr. Boyes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to increase funding for research into cause and treatment of motor neurone disease, and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson

The main agency through which the Government fund medical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives a grant-in-aid from this Department. The council's grant for 1989–90 is £176 million, an increase of 17 per cent. over its grant for 1988–89 of £150 million. The council itself determines the allocation of the funds at its disposal. The council is always willing to consider soundly-based proposals for new research programmes in competition with other proposals.