asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about his Department's refusal to finance the computer-based advice systems for general practitioners being established by Dr. Roger Brittain and colleagues at the University of Warwick.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1987, c. 500]: We have not refused to fund Dr. Brittain's system. We have written to him asking for a more detailed and costed protocol setting out the aims and methodology of the proposed research. When this is received, it will be considered for funding on its scientific merits, together with other research applications submitted to the Department.