§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with the MRC in the last 12 months over its future priorities for medical research; and if he will make a statement. [1399]
§ Mr. MaloneThe Department's Chief Medical Officer and Director of Research and Development are members of the Medical Research Council. In addition, officials from the Department have served on a number of MRC committees and met with MRC officials on a number of occasions in the past 12 months as part of the terms of the concordat which exists between the Health Departments of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the MRC. A wide range of future priorities for medical and health services research have been covered in these discussions.