4. Statement by the Minister for Economy: Developing Technological Clusters in Wales — Medical radioisotope production and nuclear medicine expertise

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:19 pm on 10 January 2023.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mike Hedges Mike Hedges Labour 4:19, 10 January 2023

I very warmly welcome the statement. This is what levelling up looks like. This is what technological clusters and what successful economies have. It will also help stimulate the economy by attracting highly skilled jobs and create a surrounding infrastructure. The UK has no domestic supply of many radioisotopes, relying on imports from European facilities. This is an opportunity to have such a facility. Medical radioisotopes are critical to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer, and they can also be used to sterilise medical equipment. I have two questions. The Minister mentioned Bangor; which other universities is the Welsh Government working with on this project? Is this the start of developing a non-hospital medical physics industry in Wales, and how will it work with the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington?