§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision exists for research into the alleviation of pain for cancer sufferers as distinct from the research into the causes and cure.
Mr. JacksonI have been asked to reply.
The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from this Department, is the main agency through which the Government support medical research. The council supports a considerable amount of basic research into pain, some of which is of relevance to cancer sufferers. In 1987–88, the last financial year for which figures are available, the council's expenditure for research into pain was £398,000. The council is also conducting clinical cancer trials to evaluate the efficacy of new treatments not only in curing disease but in relieving symptoms, including pain.
282WIn addition, university departments and medical schools support a range of the basic research from public funds, some of which may be relevant to the relief of pain of sufferers from cancer and other diseases.