Vincent Cable

Liberal Democrats | Twickenham

MP Welcomes Lord Sainsbury’s Reassurances over Teddington Laboratories

Vincent Cable MP welcomed reassurances from Lord Sainsbury that the Government will assist in keeping the wind tunnels on the site of the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, which are crucial to future technological research.

There had been concern that with an expiring lease on that part of the site, the valuable scientific work on wind currents (crucial to understanding the design of skyscrapers and oil rigs), by the company British Maritime Technology, in which the UK is a world leader might be put at risk.  Vincent Cable said: “I have involved the Science Minister who has quickly grasped the point that clarity was needed about the Government’s intentions if this valuable work is to be kept in Teddington.  The National Physical Laboratory, the (private) laboratory of the Government Chemist and the Weights and Measures Department, as well as BMT, is a major national, as well as local, resource and one of my tasks as MP has been to ensure that it receives proper backing.”