To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he will be taking in considering the bid from Porton International Ltd for the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton of any previous advice offered by his Department to companies in the Porton International group about the centre.
We will naturally bear in mind the content of earlier discussions.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings have been held between representatives of the Department and representatives of Porton products Ltd or Porton International Ltd since January 1984; and whether any of these meetings were attended by Ministers in the Department.
There have been a number of meetings between representatives of the Department and representatives of Porton International plc and its associated companies since January 1984. Ministers were present when appropriate.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects a new fermentation unit to be installed at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research; and what has been the cause of the delay in its installation.
[holding answer 17 July 1990]: The arrangements for the installation of a new fermentation unit at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research depend primarily on the centre's future functions and ownership. Until these matters are determined, it would not be sensible to proceed with the installation of a new unit.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central of 5 July, Official Report, column 672, on current licences held by the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, now many of the licences are covered by the right of marketing and distributorship agreement between Porton Products and the public health laboratory service.
[holding answer 17 July 1990]:Eighteen of the licences relate directly to products or procedures in the distributorship and marketing agreement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what valuations of plant, equipment, collections and good will have been carried out at, or on behalf of, the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research; and on what dates.
[holding answer 17 July 1990]:A valuation of the land, buildings, plant and fixed equipment at the
| In-patient cases treated1, Northern Region Health Authority, 1982 and 1988–89 | ||||
| Change | ||||
| Health Authority | 1982 | 1988–89 | Number | Per cent. |
| Hartlepool | 14,539 | 18,857 | 4,318 | 30 |
| North Tees | 21,082 | 23,833 | 2,751 | 13 |
| South Tees | 40,552 | 55,464 | 14,912 | 37 |
| East Cumbria | 20,618 | 25,764 | 5,146 | 25 |
| South Cumbria | 17,313 | 22,483 | 5,170 | 30 |
| West Cumbria | 13,572 | 15,682 | 2,110 | 16 |
| Darlington | 14,987 | 18,858 | 3,871 | 26 |
| Durham | 15,825 | 18,991 | 3,166 | 20 |
| North West Durham | 12,216 | 12,603 | 387 | 3 |
| South West Durham | 14,127 | 17,620 | 3,493 | 25 |
| Northumberland | 24,973 | 28,433 | 3,460 | 14 |
| Gateshead | 18,336 | 20,685 | 2,349 | 13 |
| Newcastle | 72,968 | 92,094 | 19,126 | 26 |
| North Tyneside | 14,842 | 20,387 | 5,545 | 37 |
| South Tyneside | 14,558 | 17,604 | 3,046 | 21 |
| Sunderland | 45,559 | 51,675 | 6,116 | 13 |
| Northern RHA | 376,067 | 461,033 | 84,966 | 23 |
Source: SH3 return 1982 SH3a return 1988–89
1 Discharges and Deaths.