§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total amount of Government funding has been for research and development into issues related to overweight people and obesity in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [74458]
§ Ms BlearsThe main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The Department funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in health and social care.
The MRC has a large commitment to nutrition generally with major investments in the MRC Dunn human nutrition unit, the MRC resource centre for human nutrition research and the MRC international nutrition group. Spend on the whole portfolio amounted to £16.6 million in 2001–02, for example.
The total MRC and Department expenditure specifically on obesity related research for the past five years is as follows:
Year £million 1997/1998 £0.3 1998/1999 £0.5 1999/2000 £1.0 2000/2001 £2.0 2001/2002 £2.1 In addition, the Department provides National Health Service (NHS) support funding for research commissioned by the research councils and charities that takes place in the NHS. Details of ongoing and recently completed research projects funded by, or of interest to, the NHS are available on the national research register at www.doh.gov.uk/research/nrr.htm.