§ Kali MountfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the identification and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis. [15359]
§ Mr. BoatengThe main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The Council currently provides support for one Small Project Grant in the area of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) entitled "The role of noradrenaline in the neuropsychological pathogenesis of the chronic fatigue syndrome". The total amount awarded is £37,000. The Council is always willing to consider new ideas for research and will consider applications on their scientific merits.
The Department of Health has been funding one project at a cost of £60,000, which was recently completed, which considered whether a particular type of psychological treatment was effective in reducing disability in CFS patients. The Department is also funding another project, costing about £65,000, which is looking at whether general practitioners are best placed to manage CFS patients, the report of which is expected shortly.