asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sums are devoted to investigating the causes of, and a cure for, epilepsy; and whether she will make a statement.

Research into the causes and treatment of epilepsy is being carried out with support from Government funds under the auspices of the Medical Research Council; in their own research establishments, by external scientific staff and research groups through the Council's research grant schemes.A number of other investigations related to this disorder are also in progress in university and hospital departments, while much basic research is being carried out by the Council and the universities, particularly in the field of neurobiology, may well throw light on the problems of epilepsy.As work in this field frequently forms part of a wider programme of neurologi- cal research it is not possible to isolate a figure for expenditure on research into epilepsy alone.