Written question asked by Matt Hancock (Independent (affiliation)) on Thursday, 18 April 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 23 April 2024 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Tuesday, 23 April 2024. A substantive answer was provided by Maria Caulfield (Conservative) on Monday, 29 April 2024 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.
Laboratories: Disease Control
- Question
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2024 to Questions 18426 and 18425 on Laboratories: Disease Control, if she will publish a breakdown of each expense category of (a) expenditure and (b) maintenance costs; for what reason Porton Down and Colindale scientific campus sites do not have separate operational costs for the Category 4 laboratories; what plans she has to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of Cat 4 laboratory sites; and what steps she is taking to protect the UK from (i) synthetically designed viruses and (ii) other new and emerging biothreats.
- Answer
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The requested information on expenditure and maintenance costs is not held in the format requested, and obtaining it would incur disproportionate cost. Porton Down and Colindale do not have separate operational costs, as work for various programmes is undertaken across both sites, and costs are considered at a programme level.
The sites have regular infrastructure and condition surveys, to ensure they are appropriately maintained. The required tactical investments are made to keep the sites viable and effective, pending future strategic investments. Sites are regularly inspected by regulators, including the Health and Safety Executive and the Home Office, which provides assurance that the sites are compliant.
The UK Biological Security Strategy was published in June 2023, setting out the vision, mission, and priorities to protect the United Kingdom and its interests from significant biological risks, no matter how they occur and no matter who, or what, they affect. Further information on the strategy is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-biological-security-strategy
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 22544
- Session
- 2023-24
- Related items
- Subjects
- Finance Disease control Modernisation Laboratories Dstl
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2024-04-29 18:18:31 +0100
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