Skip to main content

Written question asked by James Cartlidge (Conservative) on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 February 2026. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Thursday, 19 February 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


Dstl

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Government press release entitled Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection, published on 17 July 25, if the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will be relocated from Porton Down.

Answer

As set out in the answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention to a Parliamentary Question in July 2025, ‘The move [of the UKHSA facility] to Harlow [from Porton Down] will only affect UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) staff and therefore anyone on the site employed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will be unaffected’.

Dstl’s core site will remain at Porton Down for the long term, and Dstl continues to make substantial investment in infrastructure and capabilities at the site. A £50 million + Chemical Weapons Defence Centre facility has recently been completed and Dstl is undertaking a range of other infrastructure works to renew and replace other facilities.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
110837
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Location Dstl
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk