Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Charity-funded Medical Research

24 November 2020 · 6 other contributors · 11,575 words

Opened by James Davies Con Vale of Clwyd

Responding minister: Amanda Solloway

TaxationScience & TechnologyNHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

James Davies raised concerns about charity-funded medical research in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Charity-funded medical research has lost significant funding due to the pandemic, resulting in a 38% drop in fundraising income between March and May 2020.
  • The immediate financial shortfall for medical research charities is estimated at 310 million for the current year.
  • The Government is asked to consider a bespoke package of support, including a life sciences charity partnership fund contributing 310 million in the first year.

Key requests to Government

The Government should consider a bespoke package of support including a life sciences charity partnership fund contributing £310 million in year one. This would help protect and enhance our status as a science superpower and ensure that medical research is supported now and into the future.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

James Davies Con Vale of Clwyd

Charity-funded medical research has lost significant funding due to the pandemic. Charities have seen a 38% loss of fundraising income between March and May 2020, leading to an immediate shortfall of £310 million this year. Predictions show a 41% fall in research spend in this financial year and a potential shortfall of up to £7.8 billion in UK R&D spending by 2027. The pandemic has led to the halving of research budgets for organisations like the British Heart Foundation, with Cancer Research UK cutting £44 million from its research spending.

Other contributors (6)
  • Chris Green Con Heywood and Middleton

    Chris Green highlighted the profound impact of the pandemic on charity-funded medical research, noting a loss of millions of hospital appointments, GP visits, and cancer screenings. He stressed the importance of funding for clinical trials and early-career researchers, citing examples like the British Heart Foundation and the Francis Crick Institute. Asked Wera Hobhouse if she agreed with the view that collaboration between the private sector, universities, and research institutes is key to maintaining our position in medical research globally. Chris Green called for a £320 million commitment to long-term research projects, including those involving clinical trials and university students, stating that this would provide reassurance.

  • Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett

    Ms Liz Twist highlighted the impact of charity-funded medical research, particularly in breast cancer and rare conditions. She noted that events like 'Wear it Pink' have raised over £33 million for breast cancer research but have been disrupted by covid-19. Charity retail shops have closed, affecting their ability to raise funds and engage with people. The pandemic has led to a 41% decrease in research spend planned by medical charities, resulting in a shortfall of £310 million. She emphasised the urgent need for support in rare conditions like neuromuscular diseases and dementia.

  • Lucy Powell Lab Co-op Manchester Central

    Lucy Powell highlighted the significant impact of the COVID-19 crisis on medical research charities, noting that funding has dropped by 38% this year and is projected to decrease further in the coming years. She stressed that charity-funded research accounts for nearly half of all UK medical research, with a shortfall of £310 million expected over the next year. Powell pointed out that without government support, these charities risk losing their ability to fund clinical trials, impact researchers' careers, and contribute to regional economic growth.

  • Neale Hanvey SNP Dundee East

    Clinical trials and research are essential for developing effective treatments but have been impacted by the pandemic. Neale Hanvey highlighted that about 4,500 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, making it the most common cause of death among under-15s. Charities like Children with Cancer UK face a significant income loss due to the pandemic, which could set back medical research by years.

  • Rachael Maskell Lab Co-op York Central

    Charities have invested £14 billion in research over the last decade, funding staff and driving clinical trials. However, due to the impact of COVID-19, there is a £310 million shortfall in funding leading to a 41% decline in research spending this year alone. This threatens the recovery of medical research and could result in the loss of vital skills among researchers. She is grateful for the powerful points made by her hon. Friend and argues that given the amount spent on covid-19, £310 million could make a significant difference in light of people not being able to access regular services in the NHS.

  • Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath

    I am concerned about the devastating effect of covid-19 on charity-funded medical research, particularly in the context of eating disorders. The importance of charity support for understanding and treating eating disorders is highlighted by their high prevalence among young women, affecting up to 15% of that age group, with a mortality rate comparable to anorexia nervosa's highest mental health condition rate. Despite this, there remains limited research funding focusing on the causes of eating disorders.

Government Response

Amanda Solloway

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Clwyd on securing this important debate and raising the issues currently affecting medical research charities. The Government recognise that charity-funded research has been a distinct part of the UK research system, with many globally recognised medical research charities being an integral part of the world-leading life sciences sector. I thanked all hon. Members for their contributions, acknowledging the varied work that is being done by these charities and their importance in funding and supporting medical breakthroughs and improving health and wellbeing across the UK and around the world. The Government have provided significant support to research charities through investments in research infrastructure, collaborations like the UK Age Research Forum, direct funding such as £204 million this year from Research England to support charity-funded research in universities in England, and tax relief on donations through gift aid amounting to over £1.3 billion in 2018-19. Despite these measures, the Government recognise that charities have suffered a series of blows to their income due to the pandemic, with many charity shops unable to remain open, fundraising events cancelled or postponed, and research programmes affected by loss of income. In response, the Government have provided significant support through schemes like the coronavirus job retention scheme and initiatives such as the sustaining university research expertise fund (SURE) which has now gone live. The Government's goal is to further strengthen science research and innovation across the UK to ignite the economic recovery, boosting productivity, creating new jobs, and improving quality of life. The road map sets out our wish to build on the UK's strengths in the life sciences sector while recognising the challenging fiscal circumstances we face.

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