To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will state the total funds made available for research into the causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis in the last five years; and how much of this has been for research into the physical causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis.

No grant applications for research into the causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis have been received by the Department of Health and Social Services. However, I understand that in the last five years research at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast into the physical causes of ME has been supported by grants of approximately £20,000 from the ME Association and other private sources.