§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he intends to take regarding the proposed closure of the Harrow clinical42W research centre; what discussions his Department has had with the Medical Research Council concerning the proposed closure; what representations he has had concerning the proposed closure; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. JacksonIn September my right hon. Friend received advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on the Medical Research Council's clinical research initiative. The board recommended that the resources now invested in the clinical research centre should be redeployed with phased developments at a number of other centres. This proposal requires more detailed study and my right hon. Friend is expecting to receive further advice from the advisory board in the spring. The Department and the Health Department are to be kept informed of the progress of this work, particularly as regards capital costs, the redeployment of resources and the implications for NHS provision.