(Cheltenham) (Con):...The
hon. Member for Glasgow North West has already referred to the
impacts of the condition. I will not repeat those points, other
than to note this. When we talk about its affecting an estimated
250,000 adults and children in the UK, that is important because it
allows us to put it in context with other conditions and the way
they are treated. For example, there are 11,000 or so new cases
of brain
tumours each year, according to Cancer Research
UK. The late and much missed Baroness did a
brilliant job of encouraging the Government to fund additional
research into brain cancer, and none of us, least of all anyone in
the Public Gallery, would begrudge that a penny, but £40-odd
million has gone into that and it is right to note that the number
of ME sufferers in the UK is considerably more than 11,000...
(Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
(Lab/Co-op):...There is something that we can take from
the debate today, which was mentioned by the hon. Member for
Cheltenham in relation to brain tumour research—the fact that
the power of talking about a condition can bring about change. We
saw that with ,
and it is happening today with motor neurone disease, as it is
global MND Awareness Day. People are talking about their condition.
We also see it in the work on fibromyalgia being done by my hon.
Friend the Member for Chesterfield (Toby Perkins). It is a matter
of talking about things that are not often talked about. The
importance of debates such is this is in raising awareness. People
with ME are not invisible. They are as human as we are, and need to
be seen and heard. That means investing in proper medical research
and in medical education for practitioners, and in a relentless
fight against stigma for all people with
ME...
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and
Social Care (Steve Brine):...A number of people mentioned
the late . I
was very privileged to meet her. I did so just the once, but I was
left in no doubt about her resolve on the issue of brain
tumours. Let me say in reference to her and to the research
environment that, as my Parliamentary Private Secretary, my hon.
Friend the Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge), reminded me,
that journey started around the time of a Westminster Hall debate.
Perhaps that is a good sign.
Our challenge with brain tumour research is the lack of
high-quality research proposals that have come forward. The late
was passionate about stimulating the research community to get
that situation changed, and we have latched on to that. That is
one of her great legacies. I would hazard a guess that her
greatest legacy is yet to be reached, but that is one reason it
is important to mention her today...
...Once again, I thank the hon. Member for Glasgow North
West, who opened the debate, and her colleagues who secured the
debate through the Backbench Business Committee for raising the
issues of ME research and treatment on behalf of those
affected—their constituents and mine. I welcome this and all
other opportunities to raise awareness within the House.
Ultimately, raising awareness is what we can do, and that can
lead to action and real change, as we saw within
the brain tumour community...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
