asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of the extent to which the predominant causative factors leading to the development of all forms of cerebral palsy are natural causes, or negligent care during pregnancy and delivery; and whether more research is needed to clarify the mechanisms involved. [HL329]

I am advised that cerebral palsy is sometimes because of a blocked blood vessel, complications in labour, extreme prematurity or illness just after birth. Infections during pregnancy, or during infancy and early childhood—meningitis or encephalitis, for example—can also cause cerebral palsy. Occasionally it is due to an inherited disorder. It is sometimes possible to identify the cause of cerebral palsy, but not always.

The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Innovation. The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding.