asked the Minister for Health if he will state the sum made available to the Medical Research Council by his Department for research work in connection with (1) cancer; (2) tuberculosis, and (3) poliomyelitis; if he considers this sum sufficient; and, if not, what action he proposes to take to have it increased.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Research Council.
Specific sums are not made available to the Medical Research Council for research in connection with cancer, tuberculosis and poliomyelitis. A grant of £21,000 per annum is paid to the council, who decide on the manner in which it is to be used. As this annual grant was fixed in agreement with the council, and as it is guaranteed to the end of 1955, I do not propose to take any action to increase it.
Am I to understand that the Minister is satisfied with the amount sought for research work as given in the particulars quoted?
There was a discussion with the Medical Research Council and they appeared to be satisfied with the amount.
In view of the fact that the death rate from polio is continually increasing, as is shown by the figures quoted, does the Minister not think some more money should be spent by the Medical Research Council on polio research?
Research is not confined to the Medical Research Council. These matters are always being investigated by medical men here and theyhave the benefit of research carried on in various parts of the world.
Surely the medical persons who carry out such research are doing so on such funds as are supplied by the Government to the Medical Research Council? The suggestion is that it is not sufficient. Would the Minister not meet that point of view?
I do not know why I am being pressed on this point. I discussed the matter with the Medical Research Council and gave them this amount. Surely I am not expected to say to them that they are not doing enough and should take more money? I think it is a ridiculous suggestion to make. In any case, they get a lot more than they were getting some years ago.
The Minister will appreciate that the situation may have altered in the time since the sum was fixed. It is some considerable time now since the sum was fixed. The situation appears to have altered since then.
Yes, it is some time. The Medical Research Council put it to me that the fixing of the sum from year to year was unsatisfactory because they could not employ a staff satisfactorily. Therefore, they asked me to arrange for a five-year period.
I appreciate that——
Question No. 31.