§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has made an assessment of the implications for that element of food safety research, which may be of benefit to the consumer but is unlikely to offer a worthwhile return to industry, of the Government's decision to withdraw from near-market funding.
Mr. JacksonThe policy decision to withdraw from funding near-market research has not altered the Government's commitment to basic and strategic research in the area of food safety. Funding for such research has been increased in real terms.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he held with the Agricultural and Food Research Council in respect of the Bristol laboratory of the Institute of Food Research, prior to the decision by the Agricultural and Food Research Council to close it; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. JacksonThe Agricultural and Food Research Council is an independent body which is grant-aided by Government. The council announced its intention to concentrate physical restructuring of its institutes, including the Institute of Food Research, in its corporate plan 1989–94, published in February 1989. The council kept the Department informed of its consideration of proposals for restructuring but the evaluation of those proposals and the decisions taken concerning it were entirely a matter for the council.