§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by the NHS on research into(a) the causes and (b) the treatment of MS in each of the last five years; what plans he has to increase this amount; and if he will make a statement. [1859]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 4 July 2001]: The main Government agency for research into the causes and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The Department of Health funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in the national health service.
The Department and MRC spend on multiple sclerosis research, which includes spend on basic work on a whole range of auto-immune disease was as follows:
- £1.86 million (estimated) in 2000–01:
- £1.425 million in 1999–2000;
- £0.77 million in 1998–99;
- £0.783 million in 1997–98;
- £0.172 million in 1996–97.
The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for research into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands in funding.
The Department will be considering further research requirements in this area in support of the national service framework for long-term conditions.