§ 47. Sir W. Davisonasked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that Professor Fleming has made no financial profit from his discovery of penicillin, the new drug which has saved the lives of thousands of our soldiers; and whether a grant will be made from public funds to the author of this discovery.
§ Mr. AttleeI am aware of the circumstances, and also of the fact that others have played an important part in showing the full value of Professor Fleming's original observation and in developing it as a discovery capable of practical application. The question of financial rewards for medical discoveries has been carefully examined on earlier occasions, with the conclusion that any such system, even if desirable, could not be administered equitably in practice. The policy of His Majesty's Government is to support medical research work in progress, and not to offer payments on the basis of results.
§ Sir W. DavisonIs the Minister aware that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply recently stated in this House that the discovery of penicillin was as vital to the Allies as the most secret weapon we were producing? Is it not a curious thing that we should give grants to people who produce lethal weapons, but refuse them to the inventors of a drug which has saved thousands of lives?
§ Mr. AttleeI have given my hon. Friend the line which has always been taken by the Government in this particular matter, and I think he will realise the difficulty of attributing to one individual a result which may have come from the researches of many people.
§ Mr. LipsonDo the Government propose to increase their grants for medical research?
§ 58. Commander Locker-Lampsonasked the Minister of Supply whether penicillin is a proprietary article; whether the discoverers have been recompensed and will be pensioned; and whether he will undertake that this drug shall not be commercialised but only manufactured under Government auspices.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. Peat)Penicillin is not a proprietary article. It is at present being manufactured only under Government auspices and manufacture will be controlled so long as that is necessary in the national interest. As regards the discoverers, I would refer to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council to the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) to-day.
§ Commander Locker-LampsonIf the discoverer is not pensioned as he really should be, should not the hospital where the discovery was made benefit, and not the commercial interests?