HC Deb 26 March 1996 vol 274 cc470-1W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much was spent on research into(a) cancer, (b) heart disease and (c) stroke in each year since 1989; and if he will make a statement. [21579]

Mr. Ian Taylor

Research funding from the Medical Research Council for all three areas between 1989–90 and 1994–95, which is the latest year for which full figures are available, is summarised in the table:

£ million
Cancer Heart disease Stroke
1994–95 figures using current definitions of research areas 13.2 11.4 3.4
11993–94 13.3 6.1 0.9
11992–93 13.5 5.4 1.0
11991–92 13.6 5.3 0.6
11990–91 13.5 5.9 0.4
11989–90 13.3 5.5 0.4
1 Figures using previous definitions of research areas.

There are two major qualifications to these figures. First, the basis for indexing and retrieving electronic research data at the Medical Research Council changed after 1993–94. Trends cannot, therefore, be read between the first five years on the one hand, and 1994–95 on the other.

Secondly, cancer studies are underpinned by a significant amount of basic research of some relevance to the above figures, but not included within them. Such areas include research into genetic blueprint and health— £37.7 million; molecules and cells—£64.9 million; and infections and immunity—£60.2 million.

The Scottish Office Home and Health Department's expenditure on these areas in as follows:

£ million
Cancer Heart disease Stroke
1994–95 762,720 254,070 115,272
1993–94 963,910 361,404 141,835
1992–93 454,391 295,995 64,959
1991–92 181,113 140,004 90,677
1990–91 82,561 24,337 6,908
1989–90 112,862 72,308 79,975

In addition, the Department of Health—England and Wales—spent £8.3 million on cancer research in 1994–95. On heart disease and stroke, in 1993–94, the latest available figures, the Department of Health's policy research programme spent £400,000 on research into cardiovascular disease, and the NHS research and development programme on cardiovascular disease and stroke spent £49,537 in the same year. It is estimated that the NHS programme will spend £3,093,185 in 1995–96.

Figures for other years and for Northern Ireland are not readily available.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his Department's funding for research into cancer. [21452]

Mr. Taylor

The Medical Research Council, which receives its funding from my Department, supports an extensive programme into cancer. For the financial year 1994–95, which is the latest year for which full figures are available, MRC expenditure was £13.2 million.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his Department's funding for research into(a) heart disease and (b) stroke. [21578]

Mr. Taylor

The Medical Research Council, which receives its funding from my Department, supports an extensive programme into heart disease and stroke. For the financial year 1994–95, which is the latest year for which full figures are available, the expenditure on(a) heart disease was £11.4 million and for (b) stroke was £3.4 million.