§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the funding of the Elstree blood products laboratory; and what has been its ability to supply blood products in volume terms and as a percentage of United Kingdom needs, for each year since the laboratory was founded.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe information is not available in the form requested. Elstree blood products laboratory (BPL) has been funded as part of the Central Blood Laboratories Authority since 1 December 1982. Prior to that it was funded from the overall allocations to the central blood laboratories administered by North-West Thames regional health authority. The following table shows the overall allocations to the Central Blood Laboratories of which BPL forms part:
Gross Revenue Capital £ thousands £ thousands 1981–82 3,407 1,817 1982–83 4,284 945 1983–84 5,297 *5,433 1984–85 6.148 *17,100 1985–86 7,504 *13,711 * Includes special provision for the building of the new Blood Products Laboratory at Elstree which is expected to be completed in 1986–87 The BPL output of factor VIII, (the dominant blood product), has been as follows: 394W
Units of Factor VIII (rounded to nearest million) 1981–82 21 1982–83 22 1983–84 30 1984–85 28 The plant at ELstree is intended to meet the needs of England and Wales only. It is estimated that at present it supplies about 40 per cent. of the factor VIII used in England and Wales.