Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of unused equipment at the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory in Leamington Spa was repurposed for other uses in the NHS.

The United Kingdom’s polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing network for coronavirus (COVID-19) was scaled down in response to reduced demand and to ensure value for money for taxpayers. From 17 January 2023, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) laboratory network reduced from three labs to two, with the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory ceasing to process PCR tests. The laboratory has been mothballed rather than closed down; hence no closing down costs have been incurred.

For as long as the laboratory is mothballed, the equipment is being left in situ to minimise the time required to restart operations if needed. As such, none of the laboratory’s equipment has been repurposed for use by the National Health Service at this stage