HC Deb 18 July 1990 vol 176 cc572-3W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he will be taking in considering the bid from Porton International Ltd for the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton of any previous advice offered by his Department to companies in the Porton International group about the centre.

Mr. Dorrell

We will naturally bear in mind the content of earlier discussions.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings have been held between representatives of the Department and representatives of Porton products Ltd or Porton International Ltd since January 1984; and whether any of these meetings were attended by Ministers in the Department.

Mr. Dorrell

There have been a number of meetings between representatives of the Department and representatives of Porton International plc and its associated companies since January 1984. Ministers were present when appropriate.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects a new fermentation unit to be installed at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research; and what has been the cause of the delay in its installation.

Mr. Dorrell

[holding answer 17 July 1990]: The arrangements for the installation of a new fermentation unit at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research depend primarily on the centre's future functions and ownership. Until these matters are determined, it would not be sensible to proceed with the installation of a new unit.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central of 5 July,Official Report, column 672, on current licences held by the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, now many of the licences are covered by the right of marketing and distributorship agreement between Porton Products and the public health laboratory service.

Mr. Dorrell

[holding answer 17 July 1990]:Eighteen of the licences relate directly to products or procedures in the distributorship and marketing agreement.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what valuations of plant, equipment, collections and good will have been carried out at, or on behalf of, the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research; and on what dates.

Mr. Dorrell

[holding answer 17 July 1990]:A valuation of the land, buildings, plant and fixed equipment at the

In-patient cases treated1, Northern Region Health Authority, 1982 and 1988–89
Change
Health Authority 1982 1988–89 Number Per cent.
Hartlepool 14,539 18,857 4,318 30
North Tees 21,082 23,833 2,751 13
South Tees 40,552 55,464 14,912 37
East Cumbria 20,618 25,764 5,146 25
South Cumbria 17,313 22,483 5,170 30
West Cumbria 13,572 15,682 2,110 16
Darlington 14,987 18,858 3,871 26
Durham 15,825 18,991 3,166 20
North West Durham 12,216 12,603 387 3
South West Durham 14,127 17,620 3,493 25
Northumberland 24,973 28,433 3,460 14
Gateshead 18,336 20,685 2,349 13
Newcastle 72,968 92,094 19,126 26
North Tyneside 14,842 20,387 5,545 37
South Tyneside 14,558 17,604 3,046 21
Sunderland 45,559 51,675 6,116 13
Northern RHA 376,067 461,033 84,966 23

Source: SH3 return 1982 SH3a return 1988–89

1 Discharges and Deaths.

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