Written question asked by Nadine Dorries (Conservative) on Thursday, 9 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 March 2006. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 March 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Arthritis

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding the Government have provided for research into treatments for those suffering from arthritis in the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Answer

The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.MRC expenditure on arthritis and rheumatism research in the last five years for which figures are available has been as follows:

	Expenditure on research(£ million)
1999–2000	4.8
2000–01	3.9
2001–02	4.2
2002–03	6.8
2003–04	6.8

The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service. The Department's national research programme spend on projects related to arthritis in the period from 1999 to 2005 was £1.7 million.The main part of the Department's expenditure on health research is allocated to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual projects supported in the NHS, including a large number concerned with arthritis, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 58548; 444 c253W;444 c253W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Research Arthritis
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk

Arthritis

Secondary information

Librarians' tools