Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's announcement that it would invest £375 million in neurodegenerative disease research, published on 14 November 2021, what progress his Department has made on releasing at least £50 million of funding for research into motor neurone disease; and what advice his Department provides to organisations who wish to access that funding.

Through this investment, the Government has collaborated with charity funders to deliver a £4.25 million partnership with the motor neurone disease (MND) research community to increase research and accelerate the delivery of new treatments. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is commissioning up to 19 policy research units, which will include units on end of life care and on dementia and neurodegeneration. This will complement existing applied research in these areas with dedicated policy research relevant to MND. The NIHR welcomes research applications from MND researchers and has launched a highlight notice which invites MND research proposals.