Written question asked by Lord Harper (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 January 2006. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 February 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Question: (3) what funding has been allocated by the Government for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis in the last 10 years.

Answer: The Department does not collect the information requested on the number of people diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis in England. The report of the independent Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) Working Group, published in January 2002, estimated, on the basis of results from a number of small-scale studies, a population prevalence of around 0.2 per cent. to 0.4 per cent. in adults and around 0.07 per cent. in children.CFS/ME is the accepted umbrella term for patients experiencing a combination of variable and overlapping symptoms. While there is no universal definition of CFS/ME, the widely used ones all require significant fatigue and a set of attendant symptoms for at least six months.On funding for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 501–02W.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 442 c1178W;442 c1178W; 46620
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Chronic Fatigue
Wednesday, 15 June 2005
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: ME/CFS Finance Research
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk