National Institute for Medical Research

HC Deb 13 June 2003 vol 406 c338W

Diana Organ

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on the proposal from the Medical Research Council to close the National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill and to transfer part of its research to Cambridge; and if she will make a statement. [114753]

Ms Hewitt

No formal decision has been taken regarding the future of NIMR. The Medical Research Council is at present developing a long-term strategy for its major capital investments over the next 10–15 years including the NIMR. This is an issue for the MRC however the Office of Science and Technology has been kept informed.

DTI has received representations on this issue from the following people/groups who are opposed to the proposed changes: a letter signed by some of NIMR's staff (copies of which were sent to several people within DTI); a letter from a member of staff at NIMR which was forwarded to my noble Friend, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State by their MP; and a letter from an academic.