§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what capacity the Government have specifically commissioned since 1 April 1994 from the Microbiological Research Agency to respond to national emergencies. [37136]
§ Ms JowellSince 1 April 1994, the Department and the Public Health Laboratory Service have commissioned the Microbiological Research Authority to provide reference services to the National Health Service for the diagnosis of anthrax, and of infections caused by other exotic biological agents such as arbovirus, haemorrhagic fever viruses, and rickettsia. These services would form a key part of the co-ordinated response to any civil emergency which involved these organisms. The Department has paid the authority £0.5 million per annum to provide these services.
Any other services which the Government require of the authority in a national emergency are for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Defence and for the Home Department to address.