§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the extent of Government research and development programmes on allergies. [165062]
§ Dr. LadymanDetails of research projects relating to allergies funded by, or of interest to, the national health service are recorded on the National Research Register (NRR) at www.update-software.com/national. The NRR currently contains details c f over 100 on-going projects in this area, as well as a larger number of completed projects. Much of this work is funded through allocations made annually to NHS providers for research and development o meet the priorities and needs of the NHS and to meet the costs to the NHS of hosting research supported by external funders. The total amount allocated to NHS providers in 2003–04618W for research and development was?442 million. In addition, the Department is funding research on air pollution and asthma under its policy research programme.
In 2001–02, expenditure by the Medical Research Council on its respiratory disorders portfolio was an estimated £11.9 million, which included work on allergies and asthma.
The Food Standards Agency funds research on food allergy and intolerance, with particular emphasis on severe allergies, how they occur and what causes them. A large programme of research on food intolerance and allergy, costing around £1 million a year is ongoing.