§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what requests the Office of Science and Technology has received from the Wellcome Trust to host an open competition to decide the location of the new synchrotron. [105626]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 18 January 2000]: According to the records of the Office of Science and Technology there have been no formal requests from the Wellcome Trust on hosting an open competition to decide the location of the new synchrotron. However, this issue was raised by the Wellcome Trust in a number of meetings with the Office of Science and Technology early in 1999, specifically on the 19 January and on the 26 January. Later discussions with the Wellcome Trust concerning the location of the new synchrotron have 206W focused on the outcome of the investment appraisal that was undertaken for the Office of Science and Technology in June 1999. This study concluded that the current CCLRC sites would be more cost effective than a "green-field" site.