Future of major research facility remains in doubt
The future of a major science and defence facility remains in the balance, despite government promises that it would be confirmed during the chancellor's spending review.The UK Health Security Agency at Porton Down in Wiltshire researches how to tackle the world's most infectious diseases, and prepare the UK for future pandemics.The facility's move to Harlow in Essex was first announced in 2015, but has been been postponed from its initial moving date of 2024, due to spiralling costs.With no mention of the facility in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' statement, Salisbury MP John Glen asked whether the move was going ahead, but was told it was up to the Health Secretary.
In her full response, the chancellor said that the government had given a "significant sum of money" to the Department of Health & Social Care and that it will be for the Health Secretary to make a decision.Ahead of the spending review, the government had explicitly stated that a decision would be announced concerning the site.Mr Glen says that despite searching for more information, he was unable to find a more definite answer."I scoured all the press releases and all the information I could find, and the decision is not apparent to us yet," he said."It is being kicked down the road. If they are going to move ahead with it it's going to cost a lot of money, with grave uncertainties and a lot of insecurity for people who work at Porton along the way."
Council leader Ian Thorn said if the facility were to leave Wiltshire, it would be a "huge mistake" on the government's part."Beyond the health security agencies facilities, we have some of the most extraordinary research and development facilities in the world at Porton Down, much of it delivered by Wiltshire Council and our partners," he said."If you want to focus your attention in terms of delivering fantastic services, providing the right environment for highly skilled technicians and scientists, then staying in Wiltshire is clearly the right thing they should do."
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