§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence he has collated on the export potential of the technology of alkaline hydrolysis at elevated temperature for the inactivation of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies; and what action he is taking to assist British firms with the licence to manufacture the required machinery. [147864]
§ Mr. Alan Johnson[holding answer 30 January 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given him by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 15 January 2001, Official Report, column 57W. In addition, I understand that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Health are currently funding research to assess the efficacy of the technology in inactivating infectious TSE agents. Plainly, that is a crucial factor to be addressed before the export potential can be considered.
703W