§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the expenditure by his Department on biological and virological research projects in the universities in each of the last five years; which universities have been involved in his Department's projects; and what is the nature of the work being done.
§ Dr. GilbertExpenditure in this category in the past five financial years has been as follows:
£ 1974–75 … 42,601 1975–76 … 49,938 1976–77 … 38,413 1977–78 … 36,703 1978–79 (estimated) … 3,510 The low figure for the present year reflects the forthcoming closure of the Microbiological Research Establishment as a defence centre, and no contracts are currently outstanding. Ten universities and polytechnics have been involved in the work, which has essentially consisted of studies into the basic characteristics and properties of a number of microorganisms relevant to the detection and treatment of infectious diseases. Examples include investigations into the structure of biological membranes, the mechanism of the Herpes simplex virus infection, and the molecular structure of enzymes.
76WBody, which has not yet reported on the rates it considers appropriate from 1 April 1979.
None of the micro-organisms involved is designated as a dangerous pathogen.