HC Deb 19 March 1997 vol 292 c664W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards patents established with the Roslin Institute during its motherhood of work leading to the cloning of sheep. [20424]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson

[holding answer 17 March 1997]: The Scottish Office holds no such patents with the Roslin Institute. This is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who co-funded the work leading to the cloning of sheep.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of work at the Roslin Institute for addressing(a) cystic fibrosis, (b) haemophilia B, (c) blood-clotting and (d) the mathematics of the in-breeding of animals. [20425]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson

[holding answer 17 March 1997]: The work at the Roslin Institute has been funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the European Union and the private sector.

No detailed assessment of the impact of this research on specific medical conditions in humans has been made at this stage. The Scottish agricultural college has, however, been able to use the information on the mathematical theory of animal breeding in its advice to the farming industry.