§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funds were allocated from his Department for directly commissioned research relevant to mental handicap for each of the past five years; and whether he intends those funds to be increased over the next five to 10 years.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythA range of research projects relevant to mental handicap have been funded by the Scottish Home and Health Department and the Scottish Education Department using a variety of approaches. The figures are:
£'000 1984–85 97 1985–86 186 1986–87 145 1987–88 167 1988–89 1161 1Provisional. Mental handicap is a priority area for research and the Scottish Office will favourably consider any application for funding for soundly based relevant projects.