Written question asked by Laurence Robertson (Conservative) on Thursday, 11 May 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 May 2000. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 May 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to promote research into and public awareness of causes and symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to promote research into and public awareness of causes and symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if he will make a statement. [122395] Yvette Cooper: The chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis working group convened by the Chief Medical Officer to produce good practice guidance for the care and treatment of people with CFS/ME--will make recommendations about the need to identify and commission further research. The CFS/ME working group is also producing briefing notes. These are being distributed widely. The aim of the briefing notes is to inform people about the working group and the condition itself. Priorities for departmental research and development support for the development of policy are determined through discussions with policy colleagues, the Departmental research Committee and Ministers. In the National Health Service research and development programme, priorities take account of widespread consultation with those using, delivering and managing services, within a framework overseen by the central research and development committee for the NHS. In all cases, priorities for our budgets reflect analysis of the burden of disease, potential benefits, our priorities and take account of the responsibilities and work of other funders.

Secondary information