§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the cost of replacing the current system of seed testing for cereals at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany at Cambridge with an enforcement system, as proposed in his review.
§ Mr. RyderFinancial estimates of the proposal are given in paragraphs 394, 403 and 476 of the report on the plant variety testing and seed certification systems in the United Kingdom.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement as to the future of the testing and evaluation of new plant varieties and seeds being carried out by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany at Cambridge University.
§ Mr. RyderThe National Institute of Agricultural Botany is an independent body but I understand that it has no plans at present to carry out such activities at Cambridge university.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect he anticipates that his review of agricultural research will have on the work of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany at Cambridge.
§ Mr. RyderIt was announced earlier this year that grant-in-aid to the National Institute of Agricultural
512W
1987 catches in relation to type of fishing engine Type of engine Total number Location Total number of fish caught Total weight of fish caught 1. Lough Neagh draft nets 15 All Lough Neagh Not available No figures available 2. Lough Erne draft nets 1 All Lough Erne Not available 356 kgs 3. Draft net other than Lough Neagh or Lough Erne 0 — — — 4. Single wall set nets or trammel net for capture of trout in Lough Neagh 112 All Lough Neagh Not available No figures available Botany for its non-statutory work would be phased out over a period of three years between 1989 and 1992. The institute is seeking alternative funding from the industry which benefits from the institute's services and has already secured funding for next year's recommended list for cereals. Funding for the statutory work which the institute carries out on the Ministry's behalf will continue.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what responses he has had from industry to his proposal in the agricultural research review that recommended list testing, carried out by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany at Cambridge should be financed by the industry.
§ Mr. RyderFollowing the announcement to withdraw grant-in-aid to the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, comments have been received from or on behalf of a number of industry interests. In addition, consultations with industry organisations are taking place so that industry can consider what near-market research, including the institute's recommended lists, it would be prepared to fund. The institute has been successful in obtaining funds from the home grown cereals authority for the cereals recommended list next year and is continuing to urge the industry to support its other services.