§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research is currently funded by her Department into myalgic encephalomyelitis; and what research has been completed by her Department into myalgic encephalomyelitis since 1979;
(2) what attempts she has made to ensure that all GPs are aware of the research and diagnostic criteria developed to ensure the proper health care for sufferers of myalgic encephalomyelitis;
(3) what representations she has received from the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association in regard to counselling and support offered by the national health service to myalgic encephalomyelitis sufferers;
(4) what information she has on the occurrence of myalgic encephalomyelitis in teenagers.
§ Mr. SackvilleInformation on the occurrence of myalgic encephalomyelitis in teenagers is not available centrally.
The Department has received correspondence on various aspects of ME from the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association, its members and supporters. Ministers and officials have had meetings with representatives of the association and other ME voluntary bodies.
The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research in the United Kingdom is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The MRC is currently funding a study at the Institute of Psychiatry. The MRC is always willing to receive and consider soundly based research proposals in competition with other applications. The Department also keeps in touch with research being funded by bodies such as the Linbury Trust.
Medical practitioners keep in touch with developments in diagnosis, health care and treatment through professional journals, post graduate education, attending scientific seminars and the activities and publications of the medical royal colleges. The Department is supporting a task force, including representatives from the ME voluntary bodies, the Royal College of General Practitioners and experts involved in research and patient management. The task force will be considering matters such as the publication of guidance on ME which will be of help to medical practitioners.