Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase funding into the causes of and treatments for Tourette’s syndrome and other neurological disorders.

Through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) the Department has funded or supported studies into the causes and treatments for Tourette’s syndrome. This includes a study on deep brain stimulation in people with Tourette’s syndrome and a digital behavioural intervention for tics in children and adolescents. In 2020/21, the NIHR’s expenditure on mental health research was £109 million. While it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions, the NIHR’s funding is available through open competition and researchers are encouraged to submit applications in this area.