Written question asked by Ian Gibson (Labour) on Thursday, 15 February 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 March 2001. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Monday, 26 March 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what investment he has made with regard for a diagnostic test for vCJD.

Answer: Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investment he has made with regard for a diagnostic test for vCJD. [151269] Yvette Cooper: The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Department of Health, the Food Standards Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Medical Research Council (MRC), on 15 March 2001, issued a call to scientists for proposals to develop quick, effective and reliable diagnostic tests for diseases such as BSE and variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD). This latest co-ordinated drive aims to push the boundaries in as many ways as possible and break new ground towards creating usable diagnostic tools. The MRC is co-ordinating this call on behalf of United Kingdom Government Departments and agencies who fund public research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Funding decisions are expected from autumn 2001 onwards.

Secondary information