§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the establishments assessed by his Department to be leading centres of scientific excellence worldwide on bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob-type diseases; what contact the Government have had with these centres in the past; and what use the Government propose to make of them in the future. [23393]
§ Mr. HoramThe Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee regularly reviews international research into spongiform encephalopathies. The director of the national Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance unit co-ordinates a European Community-funded project which brings together those working on this disease throughout Europe. We recognise the need to make full use of knowledge and expertise from a wide range of sources to extend our understanding of spongiform encephalopathies.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has evaluated on the nature of the infective agent in BSE and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; and if he will make a statement. [24175]
§ Mr. HoramThe Government receive expert advice on bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee—SEAC—the advice of which takes account of the results of all relevant research and surveillance. In February 1995, SEAC published "Transmissible178W Spongiform Encephalopathies: A Summary of Present Knowledge and Research", copies of which have been placed in the Library.