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<p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question
in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with
the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Government’s Dementia 2020 Challenge
aims to make England the best country in the world for dementia care, support, awareness
and research. The Government is committed to supporting research into dementia to
find a disease-modifying treatment by 2025, and to help people with dementia live
well with the condition. People participating in research are central to this effort,
as are the health and social care staff who support their participation.</ins></p><p><ins
class="ministerial">We expect all people who are newly diagnosed with dementia, and
their carers, to receive information on opportunities to take part in research into
dementia. By 2020, we expect all relevant staff to have received appropriate dementia
training. This should include training relevant staff to be able to signpost interested
individuals towards research via the Join Dementia Research service. We are also currently
exploring options for increasing take-up of the more advanced Tier 2 training to everyone
who needs it.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We are committed to supporting
carers to provide care in ways that protect and preserve their own health and wellbeing.
In June 2018, we published the Carers Action Plan, a cross-Government programme of
targeted work, including a £5 million Carers Innovation Fund to encourage innovative
and creative ways of supporting carers. In addition, we are working with local government
on a sector-led improvement programme of work focused on the implementation of the
Care Act 2014 duties for carers.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Department
funds research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The usual
practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics
such as dementia. Research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available.
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health
including dementia. 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 health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. In
all disease areas, the amount of the NIHR’s funding depends on the volume and quality
of scientific activity.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The NIHR funding for
dementia research was £43.0 million in 2017/18, having increased from £27 million
in 2013/14. Government spending overall on dementia research is running ahead of the
Government’s 2020 Dementia Challenge commitment to maintain this at £300 million over
five years. The total in 2017/18 was £82.5 million; £43 million via the NIHR, £36.3
million via the Medical Research Council and £3.2 million via the Economic and Social
Research Council.</ins></p>
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