§ 7. Mr. Swinglerasked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to what extent the Ministry of Science has initiated, or participated in, scientific research on techniques of storing moist grain in sealed silos for livestock feeding; what funds the Ministry has directed to such research or made available to other bodies;how many scientists and technologists have been employed in this research; and what results have been achieved.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterResearch in the air-tight storage of damp grain was undertaken for several years at the Pest Infestation Laboratory. Results were summarised in the Report of the Agricultural Research Council for 1959–60, Cmnd. 1362. Related investigations are being undertaken at the Rowett Research Institute, the results of which are not yet available. It is not practicable to state the separate cost of this research in money and manpower.
§ Mr. SwinglerThe Minister has not stated how much of this research has been undertaken and financed from State resources.Is he aware of the feeling among many people that inadequate manpower and resources have been given to this project and that many farmers are impatiently awaiting a technical decision by the Government to approve the installation of these very important silos?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAs the hon. Gentleman will find when he has time to study it, my main Answer brings out that work is being undertaken at this moment at the Rowett Research Institute. The reason why I cannot give the figures of cost is that the time of both the manpower and the institutions concerned is, of course, engaged on many other projects also and any 781 attempt to break it down would be wholly arbitrary and probably misleading.