§ Mr. Geraint HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the experimental work carried out at the Welsh plant breeding station at Gogerddan, Cardiganshire; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthI have been asked to reply.
80WThe Welsh plant breeding station (WPBS) at Gogerddan is a constituent part of the AFRC Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) which has other sites at Hurley in Berkshire (due for closure in 1992) and at North Wyke in Devon. The AFRC is an independent body and is responsible for approving programmes of work carried out at its institutes.
I understand that AFRC is just completing a major £5.75 million redevelopment of the Gogerddan site to improve research facilities and house staff relocated from Hurley, and is taking over the Trawsgoed experimental husbandry farm from MAFF as a research farm. This will enable the institute to pursue a basic and strategic research programme approved by AFRC aimed at developing environmentally sensitive grassland-based animal agriculture.