§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what money his Department has provided for research into the study of liver disease in each of the last three years; what assessment he has made of the need for further research into liver disease; and if he will make a statement. [81631]
§ Ms JowellThe Government fund health and medical research in a number of ways. The Department funds research and development to support its work on policy development and evaluation in health and social care. The Department also manages the National Health Service research and development levy, which is used to support research and development of relevance to the National Health Service in hospitals, general practice and other health care settings, and to fund the NHS research and development programme. In addition, the Medical Research Council (MRC)—which receives most of its income via grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry—funds medical research as part of the Government's funding of the science and engineering base.
Priorities for departmental research and development support for the development of policy are determined through discussion with policy colleagues, the Departmental Research Committee and Ministers. In the NHS R&D programme, priorities take account of widespread consultation with those using, delivering and managing services, within a framework overseen by the Central Research and Development Committee for the NHS. In all cases, priorities for our budgets reflect analysis of the burden of disease, potential benefits, and Government priorities, and take account of the responsibilities and work of other funders.
The Department's policy research programme spent £285,000 on research into liver disease in 1996–97; £506,000 in 1997–98; and £662,000 in 1998–99.
A further £500,000 has been made available for a Hepatitis C research initiative, and commissioning will take place towards the end of this year.
Management of much of the research supported by the NHS R&D Levy is devolved and details of expenditure at project level are not collected routinely by the Department.
Project details of work directly funded by the Department or supported through the NHS R&D Levy can be found on the National Research Register (NRR). This is available in the Library and most medical libraries on CD Rom, and on the Internet: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nrr.htm. The NRR also contains many details of projects/trials funded by the MRC and other funders.
The MRC spent approximately £3.1 million on research on liver disease and liver function in 1995–96; and £3 million in both 1996–97 and 1997–98.
The MRC also funds basic research including the study of molecules and cells, genetics and infections and immunity, which will inform research in this area.