§ 62. Sir Wavell Wakefieldasked the Minister of Information if he is aware that foreign countries, and in particular Norway, are importing penicillin from the U.S.A. under the impression that penicillin is an American invention produced only in the U.S.A.; and what steps are being taken to correct an impression harmful to our own export trade.
§ The Minister of Information (Mr. E. J. Williams)My right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply tells me that production of penicillin in this country does not yet allow of export to any considerable extent. Meanwhile, the British discovery and early development of the drug, which gained the award of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, has been widely publicised abroad, both by the Ministry of Information and by the British Council.
§ Sir W. WakefieldCould the Minister say what steps he is now taking to give wider publicity and further information abroad to those countries which are improperly informed on this matter? Are any people sent abroad to explain the position?
§ Mr. WilliamsI am informed that Professor Flory has recently visited Sweden and Denmark, that Dr. Garrod has visited France and Belgium, and Professor Fleming has visited Moscow. We are circulating a large number of technical journals about the matter.
§ Mr. J. LewisIs there any truth in the statement made recently that penicillin has been synthesised in this country?