§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research the Government have commissioned into the causes and treatment of myasthenia gravis;
(2) how many people in each health region have been diagnosed as suffering from myasthenia gravis:
(3) what help and advice she has given to the Myasthenia Gravis Association.
§ Mr. BowisFigures for the numbers of people diagnosed as having myasthenia gravis who have been admitted to hospital are published in volume 1 of the "Hospital Episode Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library. The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research 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 always willing to consider scientifically sound proposals for research. At present, the council funds two groups specifically to investigate myasthenia gravis: one at Oxford to investigate immune mechanisms and immunotherapy in myasthenia; the second at Newcastle upon Tyne investigates altering a T cell epitope in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. The Myasthenia Gravis Association has not approached the Department for help or advice.