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 Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 June 2007 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussion her Department has had with the Medical Research Council on funding for biomedical research into myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Answer: Following the publications of the report of his independent working group on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in 2002, the chief medical officer asked the Medical Research Council (MRC) to develop a research strategy to advance biomedical and health services research in this area. The MRC responded in May 2003 with the publication of a ““Research Strategy for CFS/ME”” developed by an independent scientific research advisory group.Sir David Cooksey’s report ““A review of UK health research funding”” recommended a single health research fund and the establishment of the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research to act as a central co-ordinating body for health research. The MRC and the Department’s National Institute for Health Research will in future be subject to these new oversight and funding arrangements.

Secondary information