HC Deb 06 July 1995 vol 263 cc506-7
7. Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met trade union representatives from the Torry food science laboratory to discuss alternative proposals to closure. [31168]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Matters relating to staff management at the Central Science Laboratory are delegated to the chief executive, who has regular meetings with the trade union representatives. He informed the staff at Torry of my predecessor's intentions for the laboratory on 6 June 1995 and met staff and their representatives on 7 and 20 June.

Mrs. Ewing

The Minister will be aware that his predecessor gave a clear commitment that the report from the task force headed by Professor Pennington was to be considered by all at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food before a decision was reached. Will the Minister give us a clear assurance today that that commitment still stands? He will be well aware of the great concern in north-east Scotland about the future of the food science laboratory and its implications for the local economy as a whole.

Mr. Hogg

The hon. Lady is quite right. My right hon. Friend the then Minister, now Chief Secretary to the Treasury, did indeed give a commitment and I understand that the recommendations have come to the Ministry today, although I have not yet had an opportunity to read them. The proposals will be looked at before any final decision is taken.

Mr. Hawkins

First, I join the congratulations to my right hon. and learned Friend and his new Front-Bench colleagues. He is already aware of the importance of food science to the many food businesses in my constituency. Can he reassure me that there will be no reduction in the services provided by the Central Science Laboratory to the food industry right across the country?

Mr. Hogg

My hon. Friend makes an important point to which the short answer is yes. I will expand slightly on that. When I was at the Department of Trade and Industry, I was often responsible for decisions which involved the co-location and relocation of specialist agencies. There are career enhancement advantages in building up quite large specialist facilities because that offers members of staff more assured career progress. While I understand why people are very reluctant to move, there are advantages to staff in terms of career enhancement.

Dr. Strang

I congratulate the right hon. and learned Gentleman on his appointment. It is a great challenge and I am sure that he will respond to it.

Is he aware that the Torry food science laboratory has an international reputation and that it would be an act of vandalism if the scientific teams responsible for that work were to be broken up? Undoubtedly, many of them will not move to York, as the right hon. and learned Gentleman fully accepts. Will he make a name for himself right at the start of his period of office by taking on board the alternative local plan to which he has referred and intervening to secure a long-term future for the research station?

Mr. Hogg

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his kind remarks and I look forward to exchanges across the Dispatch Box on many an occasion.

The hon. Gentleman will keep in mind the reply that my predecessor gave on 6 June. I hope that it will be possible to transfer some of the jobs now at Torry to the Scottish Office marine laboratory. Whatever else happens, the science base, which is what matters, will be assured. That is really what the hon. Gentleman should address his attention to and I am able to give him an assurance on that point.

Mr. Robert Hughes

I thank the Minister for confirming the promise given to me by his predecessor that the issue of the food science laboratory would be looked at again. Now that the task force report has been delivered to him, will he agree to meet Members of Parliament from the area and Professor Pennington and some members of the task force to review the report in detail, as it is most urgent that it receives proper consideration before any final decision is taken?

Mr. Hogg

Certainly the report of the task force will be looked at before a final conclusion is reached. That commitment was given by my predecessor and it will be honoured. As to meeting hon. Members, perhaps I may say formally that it has always been my practice to respond quickly to requests from hon. Members for such meetings. That practice will be continued in the Ministry by me and by my ministerial colleagues.

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