§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is currently taking place into myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Mr. JacksonI have been asked to reply.
278WThe Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in aid from this Department through the science budget, is not currently funding any research specifically into myalgic encephalomyelitis. It is, however, funding a study at the Institute of Psychiatry which is to investigate chronic fatigue in general practitioner attenders. The council also supports work in immune responses to the muscle, nerve cells and related structures which may have some relevance to the understanding and treatment of this condition. The Medical Research Council is always willing to consider soundly based scientific proposals in competition with other applications.