§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is being made for research into alternatives to narcotic analgesics for nerve pain sufferers who cannot be relieved by these means.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Department is not directly funding research into the problem, but the pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom carries out research and development in virtually all therapeutic areas.
This is supported by the Department through the prices of National Health Service medicines. The current cost of this support is approximately 20 per cent. of the National Health Service drugs bill.