To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department (a) has commissioned, (b) plans to commission and (c) has evaluated on the (i) causes and (ii) means of prevention of a transient ischaemic attack; when his Department last undertook a review of those matters that took into account (A) UK and (B) international research; and if he will make a statement. (210523)

The Department funds national health service research and development through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR Health Technology Assessment, Service Development and Organisation, and Research for Patient Benefit programmes have each supported recently completed or current research of direct relevance to the hon. Member's question.

The work programme of the Institute's Oxford Biomedical Research Centre has a stroke theme, of which part is devoted to the early prevention of stroke. Two NIHR programme grants with a total value of £2.8 million have been awarded for projects also concerned with stroke prevention. Further details are available on the NIHR website at

www.nihr.ac.uk.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. In 2006-07 the MRC spent £6.8 million on stroke-related research, much of which will be of relevance to transient ischaemic attack.

The Department, together with academics, clinicians, the voluntary sector and stroke survivors and their carers, looked at the available evidence in relation to the treatment and prevention of transient ischaemic attack when preparing the National Stroke Strategy. The strategy was published in December 2007 and makes recommendations to the NHS about the most effective way to treat those who have a transient ischaemic attack. Copies of the strategy are available in the Library.