§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what facilities presently exist at the Public Health Laboratory Service laboratories in Colindale for handling dangerous pathogens specifying the category and degree of biological containment provided in each;
(2) if he will give details of the facilities to be provided for handling dangerous pathogens at the Public Health Laboratory Service laboratories, Colindale, specifying the category and degree of biological containment to be provided in each;
(3) what advice the Dangerous Pathogens Advisory Group, or other advisory bodies dealing with the risks arising from dangerous pathogens, has given on the proposed transfer of the microbial research laboratory from Porton to Colindale; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of the new laboratories being constructed at the Public Health Laboratory Service, Colindale; and for what purposes these are being constructed.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe estimated cost of the new laboratories is £24.25 million (at current prices). They will replace present cramped and inadequate accommodation at Colindale.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how often there have been unauthorised entries over any recent convenient period of years into the (a) microbial research laboratory, Porton Down and (b) the Public Health Laboratory Service facilities at Colindale.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeSince 1 April 1979, when responsibility for the former Ministry of Defence establishment passed to the Public Health Laboratory Service Board, there have been no recorded instances of unauthorised entry into the Centre for Applied Microbilogy and Research (CAMR) at Porton. In April 1982 some out-buildings on the site were damaged by animal activists. The main CAMR complex was not affected.
Whilst there have been no serious intrusions at Colindale, there have been three incidents of unauthorised entry recorded since 1978.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what contingency plans presently exist to deal with the consequences of an escape of (a) dangerous pathogens and (b) other pathogens from the Public Health Laboratory Service laboratories, Colindale, (i) amongst workers and (ii) amongst the general public.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkePlans to deal with any accidental escape of dangerous pathogens would depend on the type of organism involved, and on the actual circumstances of the escape. We are satisfied that the Public Health Laboratory Service Board has carefully considered the effectiveness of and necessity for steps to protect public safety following such an incident.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what escapes of (a) dangerous pathogens and (b) other pathogens have occurred in the last 10 years from the 444W Public Health Laboratory Service laboratories, Colindale; and if he will specify the pathogens involved and the consquences of the escapes.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNone. There have, however, been six cases of laboratory acquired infection amongst staff, but with no secondary infection of the general public.
§ Mr. Gorstasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans his Department has to move any aspect of the work being carried out at laboratories in Porton Down to those in Colindale; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the future of the special pathogens laboratory at Porton Down, and on its proposed relocation.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThere is no question of closing the centre for applied microbiology and research at Porton or of downgrading its premier position which is fully recognised and supported by the Government. We have no intention to transfer research work on dangerous pathogens from Porton to Colindale.
A number of proposals are being put forward and considered by the Public Health Laboratory Service Board itself in a review of its functions and resources. One of the proposals being discussed concerns the possible transfer of part of the work of one of the establishment's laboratories.
The special pathogens reference laboratory at Porton has two functions. One is routine diagnosis on specimens from patients and the other is research into dangerous pathogens. It is only this routine diagnosis service that is being considered for transfer into new purpose-built laboratories at Colindale.
Laboratory diagnosis of diseases caused by what are now known as dangerous pathogens has been done at Colindale since 1946 under conditions approved by the Health and Safety Executive. The new laboratories are to be completed in 1985 to the highest standards of security and safety. Controls over the housing of laboratory animals are extremely tight and animals are, and will be, housed at Colindale solely for diagnostic purposes where there is no alternative.
The suggestion recently made in the press that anyone intends to transfer research involving highly dangerous organisms to Colindale is completely untrue. No decisions on any transfers will be taken until any plans that emerge have been considered by Ministers.