§ Mr. Michael Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the inquiry into the incident in November 1976 at the Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton, involving Mr. G. S. Platt.
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Location Estimated Cost (£s) (1) Inquiries Recruits County Town Service 1976–77 1976–77 1976–77 Avon … Bristol … All Services … 202,170 16,209 655 Weston-super-Mare Army … 11,895 1,462 80 Bath … Army … 10,331 1,600 57 Bedfordshire … Bedford … Army … 6,896 457 56 Bedford … RAF … 58,254 1,144 100 Luton … All Services … 80,986 3,549 368 Berkshire … Newbury … Army … 12,368 580 35 Reading … Navy … 28,361 1,408 52 Reading … Army … 43,615 1,998 130 Reading … RAF … 59,844 1,938 114 Slough … Army … 21,727 1,012 83 Buckinghamshire … Aylesbury … Army … 7,158 177 50 High Wycombe … Army … 7,042 132 40 Milton Keynes … All Services … 22,109 852 (4) 41 Cambridgeshire … Cambridge … Navy/RAF … 37,104 1,830 97 Cambridge … Army … 52,722 537 114 Peterborough … Navy / RAF … 33,319 1,321 150 Peterborough … Army … 12,980 559 146 Cheshire … Crewe … Army … 6,931 578 113 Chester … Army … 36,041 728 175 Warrington … Army … 18,442 900 95 Cleveland … Hartlepool … Navy … 35,699 1,580 271 Hartlepool … Army … 8,874 624 58 Middlesbrough … Army/RAF … 108,986 3,234 382
§ Dr. GilbertThe board of inquiry has completed its investigations. It concluded that there was no evidence of faulty experimental procedures or equipment, that the actions taken immediately following the incident were in accordance with the Establishment's safety regulations, and that the actions taken proved adequate. It has recommended, however, that, before new work on communicable high risk pathogens is undertaken, "dummy runs" of the emergency procedures and medical control measures to be adopted in case of a laboratory accident should be carried out in conjunction with the Medical Officer for Environmental Health and the Department of Health and Social Security who would be informed of any accident without delay. This recommendation is accepted by the Ministry of Defence and will be implemented immediately.