§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps is he now taking to improve the facilities and working conditions of the laboratories for food research in Bristol, Reading and Norwich.
Mr. JacksonI have been asked to reply.
This is a matter for the Agricultural and Food Research Council. I understand that, in line with the intentions first outlined in its corporate plan for 1984–88, the director of the Institute of Food Research is producing long-term plans for the restructuring of the institute on to two sites. These plans will include provison for improved facilities and working conditions.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of scientists and researchers working in food laboratories funded by his Department, for each year since 1976.
§ Mr. RyderDuring the current financial year, the Ministry has committed £16.5 million in respect of 402 95W external investigations with a variety of contractors, most of which are at laboratories. At the Ministry's own food science laboratories, 56 staff are engaged in food research and a further 41 normally engaged in non-laboratory work carry out varying degrees of monitoring on the externally commissioned projects. It is not possible to ascertain the total number of scientists involved in the external contracts without disproportionate cost.
The total number of scientific and research staff employed in the Department's food science laboratories from 1976 to date is as follows:
Number 1976 71 1977 69 1978 72 1979 68 1980 77 1981 81 1982 80 1983 71 1984 77 1985 73 1986 88 1987 94 1988 99