§ 24. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now in a position to make a further statement on the proposed closure of the Research Station at Grey-hope Road, Aberdeen; whether it has been sold; to whom it has been sold; whether the apparatus there has now been sold; to whom it has been sold; how many, and which, members of the 18 staff are, and are not, still employed there, respectively; and what provision has been made for those dismissed.
Mr. VaneAn offer by Unilever Ltd. to purchase these premises has been accepted. The apparatus has not yet been sold, except for the accelerated freeze drying cabinet which was on loan from Messrs. Armour and which has been disposed of by that firm. During the past six months, twenty-three officers have resigned or been transferred elsewhere. No officers have been dismissed, and we are doing are best to find other work for the forty-five officers still employed at Aberdeen. Some of them 'have already received offers of employment from the Agricultural Research Council.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Minister realise that the way in which the Government have bundled up this famous factory has inflicted a very great loss, scientifically and financially, and that labour losses have been inflicted on the fishing industry, particularly in Aberdeen? I wish to state categorically that the points involved in my Question have not been answered by the Minister. In those circumstances, will he write to me and give me the details, or perhaps give them to me now?
Mr. VaneI do not realise any of the things the hon. and learned Gentleman has included in his supplementary question, but I will accept his invitation to write to him in order to clear his mind of a great many doubts on this matter, which he still seems to find obscure.
§ Mr. HughesOn a point of order. In view of that unsatisfactory answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.