§ Lord Lucas of Chilworthasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in light of Viscount Davidson's answer to Lord Lucas of Chilworth, they have yet replied to the advice of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils about improving co-ordination between the Agricultural and Food Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council.
§ Baroness BlatchMy right honourable friend wrote on 31st January to Sir David Phillips, chairman of510WA the Advisory Board for the Research Councils. The text of his letter is as follows:
"Dear Sir David
FUTURE STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH COUNCIL SYSTEM
Thank you for your letter of 1st December, which supplemented the advice in your letter of 15th November about the structure of the Research Council System.
Your further letter asked for guidance on the suggestion that a small working group should be established under ABRC auspices to examine the practicalities of achieving a closer association of the AFRC and NERC, possibly leading to a merger of the AFRC and NERC as recommended by the House of Lords Select Committee. The purpose would be to achieve closer co-ordination of the research programmes of these Councils, in particular in terrestrial life sciences.
We have considered this proposal in the light of the decision that the ABRC should be reconstituted from 1st April, and have concluded that we would prefer the 'new' ABRC to take forward the question of improving co-operation between all the Councils, within the existing Research Council structure. The need for greater co-operation was a major factor in our decision to reconstitute the Board and give it a new remit, and we would now expect the 'new' Board to give urgent attention to carrying this into effect.
As with our earlier exchange, I shall be placing copies of our letters before Parliament."
Copies of this letter and of Sir David Phillips' letter of 1st December are being placed in the Library.