asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department is sponsoring any research work into the effects of changes in the enzyme triosephosphate isomerase upon the immune system of the elderly.

The Department supports basic scientific research through its grants-in-aid to the five research councils, which are, in turn, free to determine their own scientific priorities under the terms of their royal charters. I understand that the Medical Research Council is not at present sponsoring any specific research on the effects of changes in the enzyme triosephosphate isomerase upon the immune system of the elderly. The council is, however, always willing to consider soundly based research proposals for support through their research grants scheme in competition with other applications.