§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Supply if, in view of the many successful research experiments conducted in the Microbiological Research Establishment, particularly those of immediate advantage to the public, and of the many services being rendered to other establishments, he will make a comprehensive statement on these aspects of the work of the establishment.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesAlthough the work of the Microbiological Research Establishment forms part of the defence programme, much is of wider interest since it involves fundamental studies in microbiology. These studies have many 17W applications in the field of preventive medicine and during 1958 over 80 articles were published by the members of the staff in various medical and scientific journals. Copies of these are sent to laboratories and research institutions in many parts of the world.
Two examples of how the work has yielded important civil applications arc the development and production of a completely safe vaccine against anthrax and the production of raw material for Asian influenza virus vaccine used in the 1957–58 epidemic. Biological materials are regularly provided for use in microbiological departments engaged in medical research at universities and other institutions. Information on the production of biological materials for agricultural research and for industry has also been made available.