Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the transfer of functions carried out by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to the UK Health Security Agency's new site in Harlow in Essex, including an explanation of the delay to this project, when it is expected to be completed, and whether anyone has been found responsible for this delay and held to account.

The Science Hub Programme aims to upgrade and modernise the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) high-containment facilities, to ensure that we can continue to protect the nation's health in the long-term. This programme will not impact the location of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, which will remain at the Porton Down site.

The Government has noted the delay to the project and is urgently assessing the available options. These include moving the majority of the UKHSA’s Porton Down facilities to Harlow, and refurbishing existing facilities at Porton Down and Colindale. The decision-making process will be concluded in the ongoing Spending Review. We have also reformed the governance of the programme to establish clear lines of accountability.