§ Mr. SymsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates his Department has made of the likely amount to be spent on research into diabetes in the current year; and how this compares with spending in the last five years. [23914]
600W
§ Ms JowellIt is estimated that in the 1997–98 financial year the Department of Health's Policy Research Programme will spend £266,000 on research into diabetes. The total value of studies currently being funded is £1 million.
This compares with funding over the last five years of:
- 1992–93: £189,000
- 1993–94: £288,000
- 1994–95: £366,000
- 1995–96: £488,000
- 1996–97: £434,000.
A range of research projects related to diabetes is also being carried out under the centrally funded National Health Service Research and Development Programmes. For example, a study of digital imaging techniques for monitoring diabetic retinopathy will cost £388,644 in total.
The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The Council spends approximately £3 million a year on research directly into diabetes.