MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS

Early day motion 778, tabled 11 October 2010 by Ian Swales (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 123 members.

That this House notes that despite the fact that the Department of Health now accepts myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) as a genuine medical condition, diagnosis can still pose a problem because ME symptoms are similar to those present in a number of other medical conditions; recognises that one of the main obstacles to the adequate treatment of ME is the lack of knowledge and consensus about the disease; believes that funding and research must be focused on the bio-medical factors involved and not just simply managing the psychological symptoms; requests that the Government establishes an independent scientific committee to oversee ME research; and calls on the Government and the Medical Research Council to work with ME sufferers and bio-medical researchers in order to achieve a proper understanding of the condition's challenges and unjust perceptions of the condition.

Signatures by party: Labour 59, Liberal Democrat 27, Conservative 21, DUP 5, Scottish National Party 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Alliance 1, Green 1, Independent 1.