HL Deb 09 March 1987 vol 485 cc816-8

2.42 p.m.

Lord John-Mackie

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how far advanced their plans are to privatise the Plant Breeding Institute and the National Seed Development Organisation.

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, Lazard Brothers and Company hopes to issue an information memorandum on behalf of Her Majesty's Government in the next few months.

Lord John-Mackie

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for that completely unsatisfactory reply. I know that he is new to the job, but does he realise that I asked a Question in May 1984 about this? From then on, about every six months, as his noble friend who is sitting beside him will tell him I have proceeded to ask it again and again. In March 1986 the noble Earl, Lord Swinton (whom I do not see here today) told me—if he did not quote it I shall do so now—that the Education Minister issued a news bulletin, or whatever one calls it, saying that they had asked Lazard Brothers to do a short study. It is now March 1987 and the Minister can tell us nothing except that Lazard Brothers' short study is not yet ready. Does he realise that 60 of the staff have already left, 30 to 40 by redundancy and the rest simply because of doubts about the future of the place? The director is now off to the USA in July. Is this not a shambles which the Govenment should do something about?

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, I appreciate the concern of the noble Lord about timing. I can reassure him that there is not in the least a shambles. The process has been more complex than was at first anticipated, but we hope that the issue of an informa-tion memorandum will take place in the next month or so.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, can the Minister say how many members of staff from the institute are leaving with the professor and going to the US? Is he aware that such scientists are even more important to us now than they were when the Question was first asked? Have the Government no anxieties about this? Are they doing anything to stop it?

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, it is not anticipated that there will be a brain-drain other than in a marginal respect as a result of privatisation. On the general question of loss of jobs, any AFRC staff made redundant before privatisation will receive the full redundancy or short service payments to which they are now entitled under the AFRC superannuation scheme.

Lord John-Mackie

My Lords, although we are worried about what happens to the redundant staff, that is not the question my noble friend asked. What effect is the proposal having on this world famous plant breeding institute, which is just being—I nearly used a nasty word there—by the Government? They need to look at it more carefully. Has the noble Earl seen the report in the Independent that the plant breeding sell-off has been delayed? The agricultural genetics company has a deal with the Plant Breeding Institute over a period of five years for a considerable amount of information and material. Has this fact something to do with the delay? The Government should make a statement about the situation and should not put up a dead bat in the way that the noble Earl is doing today.

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, with regard to the delay, I repeat that there have been more complexities than were first anticipated. These complexities have concerned the need to resolve the interests of various bodies and their corresponding responsibilities, as well as corresponding legal issues which arise. However, as I say, there is now a clear intention. The Government know that very shortly an information memorandum will be issued and privatisation will be able to take place shortly thereafter.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, is the Minister aware that there have already been severe cuts at the plant breeding station at Aberystwyth, which is the only one in Wales and is famous throughout the world for various excellent reasons? Can we have an assurance that there will be no further cuts? Can we even hope that some of the cuts that have taken place will now be withdrawn?

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, that is perhaps another Question. However, in regard to the WPBS I can assure the noble and learned Lord that the Government have the highest regard for the achieve-ments of this station and there are no plans to privatise any of the departments in that institute.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, quite apart from the director of this institution being "a marginal respect", are the Government still completely untroubled by the prospect of patents for new varieties of plants that may be of world-wide importance for many generations to come passing into the hands of private commercial enterprises which are not responsible to the United Nations, to the world food organisation or even to the government of any country?

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, in regard to the possible involvement of a company from overseas, no purchaser is ruled out at this stage. But during the tender process interested purchasers will be asked to give a full statement of their future intentions for the assets as they relate to United Kingdom needs and capabilities for plant breeding and seed marketing and benefits to the United Kingdom economy. The choice of purchaser will be made with particular regard to the needs of UK agriculture and horticulture. Thus would-be purchasers will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the UK market and to continuing plant breeding relevant to UK agriculture and horticultural conditions.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, has the Minister anything to say about patents?

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, I shall write to the noble Lord on that subject. I do not think that the Government expect any difficulty in this regard.