§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the projects relating to research into paralytic shellfish poisoning and associated problems to which his Department has contributed in the last three years or plans to support in the present financial year; and if he will indicate the amount contributed or to be contributed in each case.
§ Mr. CurryDuring the financial years 1989–90 to 1992–93, £1.7 million will have been contributed to research into paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) as follows:
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- preliminary investigation into the distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in the sediments in the Ardtoe region—£2,000;
- study of Alexandrium cysts off the east coast of Britain—£111,500;
- culture of toxic dinoflagellates—£15,800;
- detection of sodium channel-blocking toxins in British coastal waters—£51,300;
- immunodetection of toxic dinoflagellates—£47,000;
- isolation and purification of PSP toxin—£156,300;
- development of reliable, sensitive and specific analytical methods and rapid assay procedures—£500,000 (PSP); £575,000 (DSP);
- the effects of processing, storage, and cooking of shellfish containing PSP on the composition and toxicity of the toxin—£250,000.
Additionally, a surveillance programme is maintained, at a cost in the current financial year alone of £110,000.
Further work worth £1.3 million has been commissioned on scombrotoxin and phytoplankton research.