Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what change there has been in the level of funding for diabetes research since 1 January 2012.

Expenditure by the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on diabetes research is shown in the following table:

Total spend in future years by the NIHR on diabetes research depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including diabetes. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and the National Health Service, value for money and scientific quality.