§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates microbiologists Doctor Nasser el-Hindawi and Doctor Tharner Abdul Rahman were invited to the United Kingdom; to what extent they were party to discussions on(a) anthrax, (b) gas gangrene,(c) botulism toxin, (d) brucellosis and (e) rabbit foot and tetanus; and by whom they were invited. [26398]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 3 February 1998]Neither Doctor Nasser el-Hindawi nor Doctor Tharner Abdul Rahman were invited to the United Kingdom. They applied to attend an international scientific workshop on anthrax in response to publicity in several scientific publications. The workshop was held in Winchester in April 1989, and was organised by various institutions who have an expertise in the control of infectious diseases, including the Public Health Laboratory Service and the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research. The purpose of the workshop was to promote international understanding of anthrax as a naturally occurring disease which poses a significant threat to public health in many parts of the world. All presentations at the workshop addressed human health aspects of the disease and none contained classified information.
The workshop contained no presentations or open discussions on gas gangrene, botulism toxin, brucellosis, rabbit foot or tetanus.