HC Deb 23 February 1995 vol 255 cc320-1W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will(a) the universities, (b) the hospitals and (c) other major institutions that are conducting research into multiple sclerosis; and if she will list the Government grants that have been (i) sought and (ii) granted in each case in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Mr. Bowis

The Department of Health is currently funding a project entitled "Walking and mobility in patients with MS—is modification by physiotherapy effective?". The project is being undertaken by Professor Wiles at the university of Wales, Cardiff.

The main agency through which the Government fund medical 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 funding research into multiple sclerosis in:

  1. (a) Its own establishments which are on university sites:
    • MRC cellular immunology unit, Oxford
    • MRC environmental epidemiology unit, Southampton— direct support for MRC's own establishment granted in 1993–94.
  2. (b)Universities:
    • Institute of Neurology, university of London—Dr. L. Cuzner,
    • Department of Neurochemistry, indirect support granted in 1993–94.
    • St. Georges's hospital medical school.

In addition, very large sums are invested by pharmaceutical companies in medical research, some of which may relate to multiple sclerosis.