§ Mrs. EllmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on(a) the North West economy, (b) science in North West universities and (c) science and technology in the North West of the decision to place the diamond synchrotron investment at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire; [115042]
(2) what account he took in coming to his decision on placing diamond synchrotron investment of the impact on joint science and technology projects between Daresbury and North West universities. [115105]
§ Mr. ByersThe synchrotron is a national facility that hosts scientists from across the country. I had to consider a wide range of issues before announcing this important decision and this included the implications in the long-term for the Daresbury laboratory and the North West. That is why I announced a number of steps to ensure the science base in the North West remains strong. We shall continue to work with partners in the region to bring forward a package of measures.
§ Mrs. EllmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received in favour of placing the diamond synchrotron investment at Daresbury; and from whom. [115040]
§ Mr. ByersOur records to date show that we have received approximately 500 letters from individuals in favour of placing the new synchrotron project at the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire.
§ Ms SouthworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had from French scientists who are synchrotron users in support of Daresbury as the site for Diamond. [115134]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 17 March 2000]: Records to date show 10 cases of ministerial correspondence from scientists with addresses in France in favour of placing the new synchrotron project at the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire. Most of these are not French scientists, but scientists of a different nationality who are currently living in France. It is not possible from our records to obtain the nationality of individuals.
§ Ms SouthworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had from scientists with an international reputation in support of Daresbury as the site for Diamond. [115135]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 17 March 2000]: Records to date show about 200 letters from individuals at academic institutions in favour of placing the new synchrotron 607W project at the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire. Of these letters about 70 were sent from scientific institutions outside of the UK. Of the letters that were sent from UK institutions about 50 were sent by Professors.
§ Ms SouthworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he and his Ministers have had with the French Government in relation to the siting of the Diamond synchrotron project; and if he will publish the papers associated with the meetings. [115132]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 17 March 2000]: My noble Friend Lord Sainsbury has met with the French Science Minister, Mr. Claude Allegre, on a number of occasions on which issues relating to the synchrotron project have been discussed.
§ Ms SouthworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he and his Ministers have had with the Wellcome Trust in relation to the siting of the Diamond synchrotron project. [115131]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 17 March 2000]: I met representatives from the Wellcome Trust on 27 October 1999 and 10 February 2000 to discuss the synchrotron. My noble Friend Lord Sainsbury also discussed the synchrotron at a meeting with the Wellcome Trust on 27 October 1998, 23 September 1999 and 1 March 2000.
The Wellcome Trust and I exchanged written correspondence on this issue on:
- 24 September 1999
- 4 October 1999
- 7 October 1999
- 11 October 1999
- 15 October 1999
- 1 November 1999
- 2 November 1999
- 11 November 1999
- 22 November 1999
- 23 November 1999
- 17 January 2000.
My noble Friend Lord Sainsbury received correspondence from the Wellcome Trust on the 21 January 2000.
In recent months, my noble Friend Lord Sainsbury has had a number of telephone conversations with the Wellcome Trust, during which the synchrotron was discussed.
§ Mrs. EllmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Wellcome Trust concerning the location of the diamond synchrotron investment. [115041]
§ Mr. ByersI refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Ms Southworth).