HC Deb 17 June 1988 vol 135 c346W
Sir Trevor Skeet

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department intends to reduce its support for research and development and advisory services; and if he will identify the economies likely to be made.

Mr. Donald Thompson

In his Autumn Statement last year my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced reductions of £5 million and £10 million for 1989–90 and 1990–91 in planned public expenditure on agriculture, fisheries and food research and development. These reductions reflected the Government's view that industry should contribute more to the funding of research from which it benefits. The report on the recent internal examination of agriculture departments' R and D expenditure is currently under consideration and no decisions have yet been reached.

Sir Trevor Skeet

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reason he set up an inquiry into his Department's support for research and development and advisory services; when it intends to report; and whether it will be published.

Mr. Donald Thompson

My Department's examination of its research and development programme took place against the objectives outlined in the July 1987 White Paper on civil research and development (Cm. 185) and the Government's general view that industry should fund more of the work from which it benefits. It therefore sought to identify those areas of research which are closest to the market—that is to say, which have the most direct commercial potential. It did not cover advisory work as such, except in respect of technology transfer services. The review was an internal exercise and it would not be appropriate to publish the report, which is currently under consideration. A separate internal review of the first year's experience of ADAS charging is also being undertaken, as explained in the reply to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 26 May 1988 at column261.