§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that all public funded research is recorded and made freely available to(a) patients, (b) health professionals, (c) the public and (d) members of the scientific community. [127870]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department funds the National Research Register (NRR) and the Research Findings electronic Register (ReFeR). The NRR is a database of ongoing and recently completed research projects funded by, or of interest to, the National Health Service. The ReFeR is a database of findings from the NHS research and development programme and the Department's policy research programme. Both registers can be accessed through the Department's R and D website at www.doh.gov.uk/research.
The national electronic Library for health provides health professionals and the public (through NHS Direct Online) with knowledge and know-how to support health care related decisions. The electronic Library for social care makes knowledge available to social care practitioners, managers, service users and carers.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of Department of Health research funding was spent on research into(a) heart disease, (b) obesity, (c) strokes and (d) arthritis in the last 12 months. [127706]
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§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology. Available figures for 2001–02 are shown in the following table. Disease-specific spend data for 2002–03 is still being collated and figures will be available in the autumn.
MRC spend in 2001–02 £ million Circulatory disease 26.3 Obesity 2.1 Stroke 3.9 Arthritis and rheumatism 4.2 The Department funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in the NHS. Spend by the Department's national research programmes in the four subject areas is shown in the following table.
DH spend in 2002–03 (main national programmes) £ million Heart disease 1.4 Obesity 0.1 Stroke 0.6 Arthritis 0.3 Management of much of the research supported by national health service research and development funding is devolved and expenditure at project level is not held centrally by the Department. The Department also provides support for research commissioned by charities and the research councils that takes place in the NHS.
Annual figures for net spend on research and development by the MRC and the Department are published in "The Forward Look 2003" which is available on the Office of Science and Technology website at www.ost.gov.uk/research/forwardlook03.