§ Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in reviewing and achieving economies in the United Kingdom level of research and development on defence against biological warfare announced last March in the Statement on the Defence Estimates; and what are his plans for the Microbiological Research Establishment at Porton.
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§ Dr. GilbertThe review of defence requirements has reached the conclusion that future military needs can be met adequately by a substantially reduced programme of research conducted by no more than a small team of about 10 scientists and their supporting staff integrated within the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton.
The future of the establishment therefore turns primarily on the scale and range of civil requirements. These are being thoroughly assessed by the Government's Central Policy Review Staff, as part of a study of the need to achieve the most economic deployment of the country's resources and expertise for conducting biological research. The study will also take account of the investigation by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control of the feasibility and desirability of its being located at Porton. The study is expected to be completed around the end of the year.