§ Lord HolmPatrickasked Her Majesty's Government:
In what ways they contribute to and what progress is being made in research into diabetes, and the improvement of care provided for children diagnosed as having insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The council is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology, which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry. The council spends approximately £3 million a year on research directly into diabetes. In 1996–97, the Department of Health's Policy Research Programme spent £272,000 on research into diabetes. The department is currently funding three studies, at a total value of some £1 million. A wide range of research projects related to diabetes is also being carried out under the centrally funded National Health Service research and development programmes. The Scottish Office Home and Health Department is currently funding two studies into diabetes, at a cost of £75,000 in 1996–97. The total cost of these studies will be £176,000. A further two studies are being funded by the Welsh Office. These cost £180,000 in 1996–97 and have a total value of £600,000. The Government's substantial support for diabetes research will help improve understanding of the condition and its complications and so contribute to the improvement of care for all people with diabetes, including children diagnosed as having 151WA insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We shall also shortly be issuing service guidance to the National Health Service on the key features of a good diabetes service.