§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if it is his intention to have further full and public consultations on the feasibility study being conducted into the proposed closure of the Aberdeen-based Macaulay Institute for Soil Research before making a final decision on the matter; and if he will make a statement;
(2) when he expects to be in a position to publish the results of the feasibility study into the proposals to close the Aberdeen-based Macaulay Institute for Soil Research; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayMy right hon. and learned Friend will not make his decision on the future location of the new institute to be formed by the merger of the Hill Farming Research Organisation with parts of the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research until after the report of the feasibility study has been received and considered. In reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) on 13 February at column506, he said that the report of the study would be made available to interested parties. It is not possible to predict when this will be. He does not anticipate the need for full public consultation on the outcome of the study.