§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to hold further 517W discussions with the industry on the funding of near market agricultural and food research and development; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorMy noble Friend the Baroness Trumington is writing today to the agricultural and food industry, consumer organisations and other interested bodies about the next stage of the consultations on the transfer to the industry of funding for near market research. I have deposited a copy of that letter and its annexes in the Library of the House. The annexes to the letter give details of the agriculture, horticulture and food research which is being supported by the Agriculture Departments in Great Britain, together with an indication of the likely content of future public good programmes. I wish to emphasise that we shall continue to give priority to work in support of statute and policy, such as research on food safety, which is essential to protect public interest. The letter also refers to a proposal to close the experimental horticulture stations at Brogdale, Luddington and Rosewarne and the experimental husbandry farm at Liscombe in 1989–90.
My Department's regional laboratories will also be rationalised in order further to improve cost-effectiveness. This will involve closing during the 1989–90 financial year the subordinate laboratories at Newcastle, Evesham and Accrington as well as some very small laboratories in Wales. In 1990–91 the laboratories at Bristol and Wye will be closed and the laboratories at Leeds and Trawsgoed reduced in size. The Welsh Office is seeking alternative uses for the present Trawsgoed analytical chemistry laboratory. We shall be making new investment in storage, transport, analytical and information processing facilities so that the remaining laboratories can continue to meet needs across the whole of England and Wales.