§ Mr. KempTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department has (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated on sufferers from chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis, with particular reference to the proportion who eventually return to(a) full-time employment and (b) part-time employment. [82653]
§ Mr. HuttonWe have not commissioned or evaluated any studies that specifically look at the proportion of people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis who eventually return to full-time or part-time employment. The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The Council is always willing to consider new ideas for research and will consider applications on their scientific merits.
The CFS/ME Working Group which began meeting in January this year will also look at the need to identify and commission further research.