Macaulay Institute for Soil Research (Hansard, 29 January 1986)

§ Lord Kirkhill
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Gray of Contin)
My Lords, the proposals related to the future of the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, and the rationale behind them, were set out in the paper published in December last year by my department entitled Strategy for Agricultural Research and Development, copies of which are available in the Library.

§ Lord Kirkhill
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Will he keep in mind that in Aberdeen there are six research institutes (perhaps the most internationally-famous of which is the Rowett research institute) which are multi-research disciplines which interlock, and by the proposed removal of one the impact of the other five is affected? Will he give to the House his justifications for the proposal that approximately 250 members of staff of the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research be transferred to join the hill farming research station at Edinburgh which has approximately 70 members of staff? Logistically, I should have thought that the reverse direction would be more appropriate.

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, I fully appreciate the depth of feeling which exists in Aberdeen over the proposals in the strategy paper; but I must point out to the noble Lord that the paper has been widely interpreted as announcing the closure of the Macaulay Institute. Nothing could be further from the truth. The paper suggests that consideration at or close to the hill farming research organisation at Bush Estate, Edinburgh may—and I repeat "may"—prove to be the more productive option, and a study will be carried out into the feasibility of achieving this. The benefits and the traditions of the Macaulay Institute are fully acknowledged and the feasibility study will take all aspects of the merger into account. I should emphasise that the merger has been widely welcomed on all sides, including within the Macaulay Institute, but not surprisingly, the bone of contention is the location of the new Macaulay.

§ Lord John-Mackie
My Lords, I hope that the noble Lord will pay attention to the depth of feeling which exists in regard to this matter, because it is very high indeed in Aberdeen. I was there last weekend and the feeling is very high indeed. May I ask the noble Lord: what is going to happen to Craigiebuckler and the grounds? That property was left by Mr Macaulay to an institute. It is run by trustees. Does the noble Lord know whether the Macaulay family still have any interest in it? I hope the Government will not get their grubby privatisation hands on the grounds and house of the Macaulay Institute.

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, I can assure the noble Lord, Lord John-Mackie, that the future of the Macaulay Institute properties and premises will be one of the considerations given attention by the feasibility study.

§ Lord Mowbray and Stourton
My Lords, is not sending outlying departments back into a capital city, when they are in a provincial city, going against what is usual Government policy? I thought defusement of manpower had always been a point aimed at by all good government.

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, my noble friend makes a fair point. However, perhaps I may remind him that we need to develop research programmes which both respond to and anticipate the changing circumstances in which agriculture is practised, and in particular the relationship between agriculture and the environment. In this, we have had full regard to the 668 report of the House of Lords' Select Committtee on Science and Technology on agriculture and environmental research. The new institute which we intend to establish under the name of the Macaulay Institute is designed to provide a powerful new focus in this area. It is for very careful consideration where the most suitable location within Scotland might be.

§ Lord Ross of Marnock
My Lords, can the Minister give us any indication of how much longer this study will continue before a decision is reached? Will he consult with his noble friend as to whether or not this House will have an opportunity to discuss the matter? There is very considerable interest in it and, indeed, personal concerns, including my own.

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, I can tell the noble Lord, Lord Ross of Marnock, whose interest in agriculture I fully appreciate from his former incarnation as Secretary of State for Scotland, that the study has already begun. Two meetings have been held of the steering committee which is chaired by an official of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Scotland, and comprises the directors of the Macaulay, the HFRO and the SCRI, and the director general of COSAC, together with the department's scientific adviser, Dr Raven.
On the question of timing, the noble Lord will appreciate that this is a very important and in some ways delicate matter, and I cannot put an actual date on when the feasibility study report will be received. However, all concerned are aware of the urgency of the matter, and they have this aspect very much in mind. As to whether your Lordships' House will have an opportunity of discussing this matter, this of course is not for me: this must be for the usual channels.

§ Lord Kirkhill
My Lords, does not the Minister think it amazing that DAFFS have even made the suggestion that the Macaulay transfer to Edinburgh?

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, no, I do not think it is amazing at all; and I have little doubt that if the decision were that the activities presently carried out at Bush Estate in Edinburgh were to be moved to Aberdeen, we would have had similar representations from Edinburgh.

§ Lord Kirkhill
Yes, my Lords, but my earlier point is surely relevant, namely, that there are only approximately 70 staff at Edinburgh, as against 240 in Aberdeen.

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, that point will be undoubtedly taken into consideration by those examining in the feasibility study.

§ Lord Dulverton
My Lords, is my noble friend aware of the feeling of dismay in some parts of the Northern Highlands that the Macaulay is possibly being moved to Edinburgh, whereas, as some have noted, Aberdeen itself is very strong in feeling? However, I think the feeling goes much wider than Aberdeen, and extends throughout the Northern Highlands, who feel that Aberdeen is in touch with them and their affairs, whereas Edinburgh is a little remote.

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his comment and I can confirm to him that I am fully aware of the feeling in the Highlands of Scotland regarding this matter, although it is not all in the one direction. However, as an aside, perhaps I may suggest to him that as a result of the improvements which have been made on the A9 northwards, one can now be in the Highlands of Scotland as quickly from Edinburgh as one can on the A96 from Aberdeen.