Many of Britain's best medical scientists do not have enough money because the government's funding body prefers to support speculative projects that may never help human health, a committee of MPs has concluded.

The Medical Research Council, which distributes more than £400 million of taxpayers' money annually, is wasting resources on long-term schemes that are years away from producing useful results, according to a report by the science and technology committee.

Forum Response: Prostate Cancer Charity

Chris Hiley, head of policy and research for the Prostate Cancer Charity, told ePolitix.com: "I'm sure we can expect a robust defence of their position from the MRC in the next few days .

"As far as prostate cancer is concerned the MRC is a major influence, taking the lead in setting up the new prostate cancer research collaboratives - a much needed innovation in the management and execution of prostate cancer research in this country. We will watch closely to make sure this is not inadvertently endangered by any reorganisation of wider management that may occur in response to this report."

Forum Response: Depression Alliance

Jim Thomson, director of Depression Alliance, told ePolitix.com: "Depression Alliance is unsurprised by the findings of the Commons Science and Technology Committee. We are becoming increasingly aware that delivery against the government's health priorities is not necessarily in line with its claims.

"We will be highlighting this in the coming days but would like to take the opportunity today to ask where exactly they spent the additional £75 million earmarked for mental health services.

"We have asked representatives of other service-user groups, primary healthcare professionals, community mental health teams and individuals in urgent need of the services. No one appears to know what has become of it."

Forum Response: SANE

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of SANE, told ePolitix.com: "It would be a pity if the focus on short term results means there is even less funding available for the kind of research we are undertaking at The Prince of Wales International Centre for SANE Research, which aims to find the elusive clues which may lead us to finding the causes of one of the world's most common afflictions - schizophrenia.

"One of our aims is to look at human-specific capacities and disorders and that part of the genome that relates particularly to humans such as language to unlock the cause of psychosis. Until we know what results in the clash of circumstance and biochemistry underlying severe mental illness, better treatments can only have partial success.

"There is a serious danger of focussing too much on short-term research which will delay essential long-term research which could mean future generations would no longer have to endure these cruel illnesses."