Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 16 May 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 18 May 2007. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 June 2007 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research she has (a) initiated and (b) evaluated on biomedical research into chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis; what plans she has for future research in this area; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department’s total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. That devolved funding is supporting a body of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) research, including a number of projects where a research charity is the principal funder. Details are available on the national research register at:"www.dh.gov.uk/research."The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support biomedical research and is currently funding two trials into treatment options for CFS/ME and two epidemiological studies.In addition, the new National Institute for Health Research South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and Institute of Psychiatry Biomedical Research Centre, funded by the Department, will undertake research on CFS/ME.

Secondary information