Thank you for contacting me about support for people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

I am assured that the Government and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) understands the importance of research, ensuring early diagnosis, and providing support are for helping those living with MND.

In November 2021, the Government committed at least £50 million over a five-year period to MND research. I understand that £29.5 million of this committed funding has been allocated to specialist research centres, including £8 million for early phase clinical research for MND to speed up innovative new treatments, as well as £1 million for a MND Collaborative Partnership to support the discovery of MND treatments. This will enable researchers easily accessible funding, in order to speed up innovative new treatments. This is all with the goal of giving people living with the condition the chance of a better quality of life through improved treatments. The remaining funding will be available for researchers to access through the Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health and Care Research.

My colleague, the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, recently hosted a roundtable for patient groups and leading researchers to discuss their research on MND. As a result, everyone in England can now sign up to take part in MND research through the NHS App.

I also commend the work of the MND Association which has provided important insight into the extent of support that carers provide and in highlighting the importance of access to aids and adaptations in the home to people affected by Motor Neurone Disease.

I will continue to monitor this issue closely.

Thank you again for all of those who took the time to contact me.