House of Lords written question – answered at on 17 April 2007.
Baroness Byford
Shadow Minister (Food & Rural Affairs), Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many scientists are engaged in research into bluetongue and allied diseases such as African horse sickness; and whether data from this work are held centrally.
Lord Rooker
Minister of State (Sustainable Farming and Food), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Sustainable Farming and Food), The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The wide-ranging research work on bluetongue and associated diseases is undertaken by Pirbright (in containment facilities), and some other research (not requiring containment) is carried out in a number of other facilities, such as universities. The total number of scientists engaged in this area of work is around 36. This figure can fluctuate a little with the allocation of part-time staff and changes in student and post-doctorate numbers.
The knowledge base on bluetongue and African horse sickness is predominantly centralised at Pirbright, and the laboratory co-operates internationally in respect of its work on this area. This is reflected by its status as a European Community reference laboratory for bluetongue and is the OIE reference laboratory both for bluetongue and African horse sickness. All research undertaken at Pirbright is published.
Yes1 person thinks so
No1 person thinks not
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