BSE (Hansard, 1 July 1997)

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the contract for research into a diagnostic test for BSE with Electrophoretic International ended; for what reasons it was not renewed; and what plans he has to place future contracts with the company. [5801]

§ Mr. Rooker
MAFF has a collaborative agreement with Electrophoretic International (EI) which was effective from 22 December 1995 for one year. Certain clauses of the agreement continue to operate. MAFF will continue to treat the company in the same way as all other bodies in relation to research and supply of materials. There are no plans for any further contracts with EI.

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what basis the contract between his Department for research into a diagnostic test for BSE was tendered; how many other tenders were received; and what was the role of Ministers in the decision to award the contract to Electrophoretic International. [5800]

§ Mr. Rooker
The nature of the agreement between MAFF and Electrophoretic International (EI) was one of collaboration. The Ministry did not commission any work from EI. This was not a "contract to develop a diagnostic test" and a tendering process was not relevant.

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract between his Department and Electrophoretics International covering work to develop a diagnostic test for BSE and a copy of his Department's evaluation of the work. [5798]

§ Mr. Rooker
MAFF has no contract with Electrophoretics International (EI) to develop a diagnostic test for BSE. We did, however, have an agreement with154W EI which was one of collaboration. As required by the terms of this agreement, we wrote to EI on 14 March requesting their agreement in writing to our placing a copy in the Library of the House. EI are currently reviewing their position in the light of their commercial position.
Since no work was commissioned by MAFF from EI, no evaluation has been made.

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been paid to Electrophoretics International by his Department for work on a diagnostic test for BSE. [5802]

§ Mr. Rooker
No money was paid to Electrophoretics International as the Ministry had not commissioned any work from them.

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what meetings took place between his Department and representatives of Electrophoretics International(a) prior to the contract for research into a diagnostic test for BSE being let, (b) during the lifetime of the contract and (c) after the expiry date of the contract; and if he will place copies of the papers and minutes of these meetings in the Library. [5799]

§ Mr. Rooker
The agreement was signed on 22 December 1995 and has not expired in respect of all its provisions. MAFF officials attended two meetings with Electrophoretics International (EI) representatives prior to the signing of the agreement and two meetings subsequently. This is in addition to contact between scientists from Veterinary Laboratory Agency, Weybridge and EI on research collaboration as provided for in the agreement.
Under the terms of the agreement, we would need the consent of EI before papers on such meetings could be placed in the Library of the House.

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which(a) companies and (b) other bodies have been commissioned by his Department to undertake research into a diagnostic test for BSE. [5797]

§ Mr. Rooker
The following organisations have been funded by MAFF to undertake work into finding a diagnostic test for BSE:

Veterinary Laboratory Agency

Institute for Animal Health

Birmingham University

155W

London Hospital Medical College

Animal Health Trust

Moredun Research Institute

University of Edinburgh

Institute for Grassland and Environment Research.

A further contract with Newcastle University is still to be finalised.
An Open Competition for research funding for development of novel methods for the diagnosis of BSE was announced by MAFF to the international scientific community in August 1996. Proposals were reviewed by independent referees and three proposals from UK research laboratories were taken up for funding in January 1997. Two further proposals are being followed up; a joint proposal from two Swiss companies (Paul Scherrer Institute and CSEM, Centre Suisse D'Electronique Etude Microtechnique, S.A.) and the California Institute of Technology.