Chamber and committees

That is what you have actually spent.

Professor Gunson, have you anything to add on international relationships?

What you are asking for would probably be seen as preventative spend, on which there is a bit of pressure.

You do not need to press your button for the microphone.

That is helpful.

I think I picked up that we are currently testing 200 samples per week, which is less than previously. Can you, or Scottish Water, explain that number? Is that good or bad? Should we do more? How long should we keep testing 200 samples per week?

Perhaps I could ask you one more question, then if they want to come back in they can do so.

It has been suggested that we should have a chief scientist for public health. Have you a view on that? We already have a chief scientist for health and a chief medical officer. I would be reluctant for us to just keep creating more posts, but do you think that having such a position might be helpful?

That is very helpful. Mr Ponton, do you want to add to that?

Is that because we in the UK are too fanatical about privacy?

Okay. So far, we have mainly mentioned connectivity within the UK picture, but what about the international scene? How have other countries been doing with genome sequencing, and how are they planning to go forward? We tend to think of America as the leader on such matters. Where does it stand in all of this? What about the rest of Europe?

The universities tend to have good relationships with others around the world. I wonder whether either Dr Templeton or Professor Gunson has experience of working internationally on this issue.