Agricultural Research: Funding (Hansard, 10 October 1988)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)
My Lords, in June and July I held meetings with organisations representing the various sectors of agriculture, including eggs and poultry. Details of "near market" research were circulated in early August and discussions in depth took place at meetings with officials and researchers in late August.
Industry representatives will have a further opportunity to put their views to me at a meeting on 12th October. I have asked for a considered first response from industry by the end of October.

§ Lord Graham of Edmonton
My Lords, while I acknowledge with appreciation what the Minister said and what she wrote to me in a letter last week, perhaps I may ask whether she will acknowledge that there is deep unease in the industry at the time-scale which she has just outlined. Will she also bear in mind that only last month more than 40 organisations, led by the NFU, condemned that short time-scale as ludicrous in the circumstances?
Will the Minister also take on board the fact that while she and her Ministry are reducing the cost of R&D, Britain spends less on R&D than almost any other EC country? Is she aware that in Denmark they spend almost three times what we spend on pig meat alone? Will she agree that unless she revises the time-scale and purport of the inquiry there is a grave danger that the industry will not co-operate with her in what she intends to do?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, I am fully aware of the effect that uncertainty has on morale. That is one reason why we are pushing rapidly ahead with our consultation exercise. We are keeping ministry staff and AFRC fully informed of the progress of our consultations with industry and will inform them as soon as final decisions are reached.
With regard to competitiveness with the rest of Europe, it is difficult to make valid international comparisons of expenditure on R&D. However, it is firm government policy to avoid discrimination against UK agriculture.

§ Lord Carter
My Lords, is the Minister aware that one of the research projects identified as "near market" in the poultry section is the prevention of salmonella? In view of recent events in this House is she aware that some noble Lords feel that to include that area of research in potential cuts is near the bone rather than near the market?
Will the Minister also give an undertaking that once the quantum of agricultural research and development to be funded by the agriculture and food industries is decided the Government will give their full backing—including the use of existing statutory powers if necessary—to schemes which will enable the collection of required funds on an equitable basis from all sectors of the agriculture and food industries?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, the British Poultry Federation has been invited to all my meetings covering eggs and poultry R&D as well as 583 to those meetings with officials. In addition, I met the chairman and director general of the federation on 13th July to discuss R&D. The reviewer, Mr. Barnes, has also met the federation while conducting his review. We fully recognise that industry needs to know what research has not been identified as "near market". At recent meetings we have sought to explain "near market" work in the context of the whole research programme. The Government remain committed to supporting the science base and providing a platform for future exploitation by industry.

§ Baroness Masham of Ilton
My Lords, following on from that question, perhaps I may ask the Minister how much research is being done on salmonella and eggs as cases of salmonella poisoning are increasing vastly.

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, that is a little wide of the Question, which concerns the broad outline of "near market" research and R&D generally. I am quite sure that research is being carried out into the question of salmonella in eggs. If the noble Baroness wishes a precise answer I shall write to her.

§ Lord John-Mackie
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that in this era of tremendous change in the production, consumption, packaging and displaying of food this is not the time to upset research which is being carried out at present?
The Minister said that she was dealing purely with the question of "near market" research. Would she like to explain the term to the House? I am sure that a great many people do not know what it means.

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, I believe that I have explained it several times before but I should be delighted to do so again. Broadly speaking, the term "near market" is taken to mean work which offers the prospect of commercial exploitation or application within a short enough time-scale to justify investment by industry.

§ Lord Graham of Edmonton
My Lords, will the Minister take on board the fact that the food processing industry has not been as fully consulted as other sectors of the industry? Will she also recognise that more than 60 per cent. of the MAFF-funded research at the Institute of Food is under threat? Will she also revise what she said concerning the safety of research into poultry, because my information suggests that the whole of the research regime relating to poultry is under threat?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, perhaps I may take first the last point concerning the level of cuts in research in the eggs and poultry sector. As the noble Lord will know, consultations are continuing and no final decisions have been reached. However, we have identified roughly between £1 million and £1.7 million of "near market" R&D in the eggs and poultry sector. That is a proportion of the total spend on eggs and poultry. Work affecting the public good, 584 such as health, safety, animal welfare and environmental protection is not classified as "near market" and will continue to be a priority for government-funded R&D.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, in view of the fact that this is an extremely important and sensitive area, will the Minister say how the Government propose that the report and its findings will be made public? Will there be a White Paper or a statement in the House? Can she enlighten us on that matter, please?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, what has happened is that there has been a series of meetings with every sector in the agricultural industry, and, as I have already said, there will be more meetings. We have asked for first replies from each sector of the industry by the end of October. We shall go through those replies very carefully and Ministers will then make decisions. Those decisions will have to be made public and they will be fully publicised, but it would not be right for me to comment on whether or not there will be a White Paper. However, the decisions will be made public.

§ Lord Mackie of Benshie
My Lords, would the Minister like to tell the House whether any of the many bodies consulted have expressed sympathy with the Government's plans?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, did the noble Lord ask whether anybody had expressed sympathy with the Government's plans? If so, I have to reply that yes, they have. In many cases, people of intelligence equal to that of the noble Lord have said to me, "And about time too!"