HC Deb 28 June 1968 vol 767 cc131-2W
Mr. Gardner

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent inquiry into the future development of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

Yes. This was an internal inquiry conducted by a Joint Review Group representing my Department and the Council of the Institute under an independent Chairman. Its purpose was to examine the constitution, functions, structure and financing of the Institute and to ascertain in what form it could best continue to serve the interests of agriculture and related industries in the future, bearing in mind the additional responsibilities entrusted to Ministers under the Plant Varieties and Seeds Act, 1964, future developments in crop and seed improvement work, and the methods by which the Institute is financed.

Both the Government and the agricultural and related industries have a vital interest in the seed and crop improvement work carried out by the Institute. The Group unanimously recommended that the best and most economical course would be to re-constitute the Council so that it could carry out a wide range of functions in closer conjunction with my Department and to integrate the staff with the Department as a special service for plant improvement. The Council of the Institute would continue to be responsible for the Recommended Lists of Varieties and would play a major part in the arrangements for seed certification which have proved so valuable to fanners and the seed trade. The Group proposed that the whole work would be financed directly from the Vote of my Department, subject to the approval of Parliament, instead of by way of the present grant-in-aid.

These recommendations have been accepted in principle by the Council and are now under consideration by my Department.

I am much impressed by the need for reorganisation, which I am satisfied would maintain the international reputation of the Institute and enable it to face the demands of the future for improved crop productivity. The staffing implications will, however, have to be considered in the light of Government policy on the Civil Service.

I would like to thank the Chairman of the Review Group, Mr. George Bishop, C.B., O.B.E., and the Chairman and other members of the N.I.A.B. Council who helped to conduct this inquiry, for their co-operation and assistance.