§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will specify those aspects of research that are not carried out elsewhere than at the department of experimental pathology of the Westminster medical school and describe by condition the classes of patient who will be referred to other named hospitals in the event of that department closing, and which of these hospitals are equipped to treat each class of patient at an equivalent standard supported by an equivalent standard of appropriate research.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 982, c. 25–26]: The department of experimental chemical pathology of the Westminster medical school is the only centre in the country able, at present, to separate and estimate four metabolic forms of vitamin B12. However, there are three other centres in London—the clinical research centre at Northwick Park, St. Bartholomew's hospital and the Royal Free hospital, which can measure three out of the four forms of vitamin B 12 being handled at the Westminster. These centres have advanced research facilities where the investigations currently carried out in Professor Matthews' unit could be undertaken, if professional opinion were to support their usefulness. Diagnosis and treatment of adults and children with vitamin B 12 deficiency is routinely carried out at any NHS hospital with the requisite haematology facilities.