Top-secret laboratories outsourced by Defra


Updated:


Britain's top-secret laboratories battling to prevent outbreaks of anthrax, foot-and-mouth, mad cow disease and Asian bird flu  -  with some installations so sensitive they do not officially exist  -  have been privatised.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is transferring the maintenance of 186 sites and 800 civil servants to outsourcing specialist Interserve.

The contract includes three labs, whose work is so top secret their locations are undisclosed.


b

Privatised: Defra is transferring three labs as part of the outsourcing deal


The Central Science Laboratory, the Government Decontamination Services and Veterinary Medicines Directorate are also on the list.

It also covers units attempting to save the red squirrel, contain the spread of mink and understand why the bumble bee is dying out.

Interserve, which also provides private-sector services to Buckingham Palace, said the 15-year Defra contract will be worth at least £500million to it.

Most watched Money videos