§ 51. Mr. Masonasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science to what extent his Department, in liaison with the National Research Development Corporation and the Medical Research Council, is furthering research into the development of an anti-common cold vaccine; what has so far been achieved; at what cost; what is the current expenditure on this research; whether all effort is being canalised in one research programme; and if he will give an estimate of the prospects of success.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethThe Medical Research Council, for which my noble Friend is responsible, has entered into an agreement with the National Research Development Corporation and three pharmaceutical firms for a programme of collaborative research on the production of a common cold vaccine. Recent experiments at the Common Cold Research Unit, which is maintained by the Medical Research Council and the Ministry of Health, have shown that antibody production can be stimulated by the injection of particular cold viruses. Further work will be necessary to discover138W whether such injections will actually give protection against colds. It is not possible to estimate expenditure on this work since it forms part of a broader programme of virological research supported by the Council. I cannot estimate the prospects of success but would like to say that progress is dependent on an adequate supply of volunteers at the Common Cold Research Unit to test the efficacy of the vaccine.