HL Deb 28 July 1997 vol 582 cc6-7WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What funds have been allocated for research into the organic aetiology of chronic fatigue syndrome and allied syndromes since 1987; how many research proposals have been submitted to the Medical Research Council in that period; of those, how many have been accepted; what reasons have been given for rejection of others and on whose decision.

Lord Simon of Highbury

Since 1987 the Medical Research Council has allocated around £152,220 for research into the organic aetiology of chronic fatigue syndrome and allied syndromes.

Since 1993 there have been nine grant applications to the MRC in this area, of which only one was accepted. Between 1987 and 1993 the basis for indexing and retrieving data was different to the current system which makes direct comparisons difficult. However, in that period the MRC has been able to establish that at least seven applications were made for research into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and two awards were made.

The Council's scientific advisory boards and committees decide on whether or not to award a grant following peer review of applications. The reason for declining the above applications was that they did not meet the competitive standard required for funding.