HC Deb 27 June 1995 vol 262 cc603-4W
Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary for Defence what assessment has been made in the consideration of possible co-location of the RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine with the School of Aviation Medicine of the implications of co-location for support services, appropriate levels of financial resourcing and the need for appropriately trained and qualified personnel. [31025]

Mr. Soames

The Institution of Pathology and Tropical Medicine is planned to close as a separate establishment on 31 March next year, when the bulk of its functions will transfer to the new core service hospital at Haslar. The future location of the institute's aviation pathology and toxicology department is at present the subject of an investment appraisal which will, as a matter of course, take account of all relevant factors.

Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 June,Official Report, column 234, on employees at the RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine, how many of those employed are pathologists with a specific responsibility for aircraft investigation; and how many of the others are support staff engaged in aviation pathology. [31024]

Mr. Soames

At present, the Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine employs one full-time civilian pathologist with a specific responsibility for aircraft accident investigation. He is assisted, as circumstances require, by four RAF pathologists and six support staff, two of whom are civilians.