§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase funding for research into sudden infant death syndrome.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe main agency for Government funding of research into sudden infant death syndrome and respiratory distress syndrome 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. Between 1991–92 and 1992–93, the last two years for which figures are available, spending on this area of research rose by almost 117 per cent., from £747,000 to £1.62 million.
The Department is currently funding two research projects through its central research programme which are both examining changes in infant care practice following the "Back to Sleep" campaign. Estimated expenditure on these totals £408,257 between 1993 and 1996.
In 1995, the Department will be continuing with a further £200,000 special in-depth study using the mechanism of the confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy to examine possible new, avoidable factors leading to sudden and unexplained deaths in infancy. This is in addition to £200,000 which has been spent on the project already this year.
The need for further research into sudden infant death syndrome is kept under regular review. New research is commissioned as soon as the need arises, as exemplified by the chief medical officer's recent announcement of the formation of an expert group to steer further work on cot death and to examine the likelihood of a causal link between chemicals and cot death.