Agricultural and Food Research Council

HC Deb 12 March 1990 vol 169 cc34-5W

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the decision was taken that the Agricultural and Food Research Council would henceforth concentrate on generic, rather than commodity, research; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson

The funds received by the Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC) from the science budget are used to support basic and strategic research underpinning the needs of the United Kingdom farming and food industries. Commissions for commodity research, placed with the council, are being reduced following the Government's policy decision to withdraw from near-market research. The council is adjusting its programme accordingly, but commodity research remains an important element of the AFRC programme.