The Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee said there was a risk of another "devastating" leak like last year's foot and mouth escape from the animal health facility in Pirbright, Surrey, unless biosecurity was taken more seriously.

The committee singled out the "ageing" Health Protection Agency laboratories at Porton Down in Wiltshire where it described the conditions as "not acceptable".

It called for the appointment of a single Minister to take responsibility for the co-ordination of biosecurity measures and the provision of "high-containment" laboratories.

In all, there are ten sites in the UK working with the most dangerous pathogens, classified as CL4, with a further 600 operating at the next level down with CL3 pathogens.

The committee said that while some facilities were world-class, others had been neglected and were in need of significant investment.