Salisbury's MP pushing for further Porton Down investment
John Glen says he wants to 'unlock even more potential' for the area
Salisbury's MP says he's 'turning up the pressure' on the Government to make further investments in life sciences work at Porton Down.
John Glen has written in his latest blog that it's possible to 'unlock even more potential' for extra high-skilled jobs.
Porton Down has an international reputation in the sector and just this week, a new vaccine centre opened there, run by the UK Health Security Agency.
Mr Glen, who's also the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said:
"This week is another important milestone in the history of Porton Down as it was announced that a new Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC) had opened as part of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) facilities. The VDEC will employ over 200 scientists who will be working in public health laboratories looking at tackling critical public health threats.
"The past five years – with first the novichok nerve agent attack here in Salisbury and then a global pandemic – have shown the critical importance of cutting-edge scientific research to protect public health. The new vaccine unit and the recently opened Collaborative Innovation Centre at Porton Science Park which I visited in June show that Porton Down is going from strength to strength."
"I am very pleased that Porton Down is providing an increasing number of well-paid jobs for local residents in South Wiltshire, but I am not complacent and we must resist the temptation to rest on our laurels.
"There is more investment possible to unlock even more potential and build on Porton Down’s stellar international reputation. In recent weeks I have been turning up the pressure on ministerial colleagues to make sure the government exploits the unique synergies that are possible through the co-location of Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and UKHSA facilities."