§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what work has been carried out by his Department on arachnoiditis, including investigations of its cause, symptoms and the prognosis for suffers; what research he has funded into treatments and possible cure; and what information his Department has about claims for compensation by sufferers whose condition is alleged to have been caused by the administration of Myodil.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science. The MRC is not currently supporting any research specifically into arachnoiditis.
We are aware that litigation is proceeding on behalf of people who claim damage through the administration of myodil.