Public Health Laboratory Service, Colindale

HC Deb 04 November 1997 vol 300 cc179-80W

Mr. Dismore

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement consequent on the recent visit of the Minister for Public Health to the public health laboratory service, Colindale. [13121]

Ms Jowell

I am pleased to note that my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) also visited the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) at their headquarters in Colindale, and trust that he was as impressed as I was by my visit in June. The PHLS has provided microbiological and epidemiological services for fifty years and plays a key role in protecting the population from communicable disease threats. We expect this key role to continue to be central to the Government's emphasis on public health.