HC Deb 31 October 1996 vol 284 cc259-60W
Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to develop research and development for primary health care in Northern Ireland. [107]

Mr. Moss

The imminent appointment of the first director of research and development for the health and personnel social services as head of a new office of R and D, and plans radically to revise funding mechanisms in line with Great Britain developments emanating from the Culyer report are designed to ensure that R and D in primary care receives equitable access to available funds for R and D.

Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums were spent on research and development for primary health care in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available. [106]

Mr. Moss

The Department of Health and Social Services currently provides support for research and development in the health and social services in Northern Ireland via a variety of mechanisms. Departmental funds are not reserved for specific areas of research, but are available for application across all priority areas.

During 1995–96, the Department provided £75,000 in direct support of R and D in the area of primary health care.

In addition to this, indirect support for primary health care was further provided through the provision of research funds to the four core-funded research units at the Queen's university of Belfast. The units undertake a broad portfolio of research, comprising issues directly and indirectly associated with primary health care: for example, a primary concern for the drug utilisation research unit is the prescribing of drugs by general medical practitioners. Figures for expenditure by the units on specific research projects are not available centrally.