HC Deb 07 February 1990 vol 166 cc703-4W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the centre for applied microbiology and research.

Mr. Freeman

I am carefully considering the way ahead for CAMR in the light of advice from scientific and financial advisers. It is clear that the essential public health work must remain under the responsibility of the public health laboratory service. As one of the options for the future of the non-public health work at CAMR, we are considering an approach to acquire CAMR by Porton International plc. We will be advised by Hambros plc. I am not persuaded that these non-public health functions of the centre are of a nature that need necessarily be carried out within the public sector. When we have considered Porton's approach we will make a further statement, taking into account the interests of staff and public health.