Natural Resources Institute

HL Deb 19 April 1995 vol 563 c54WA

Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they reconcile their planned reduction of staff strength at the Natural Resources Institute by more than 25 per cent. with their own analysis that NRI's expertise is increasingly sought by outside clients in the development aid community and their expressed determination to expand this aspect of the Institute's activities.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

There is indeed increasing demand for NRI's services from external clients. This is projected to rise by some 70 per cent. by the turn of the century. On that basis, it would constitute about one-third of NRI's income, as compared with an estimated 14 per cent. in 1994–95. This shift in the source as well as the level and nature of demand has been fully taken into account in the business projections which underlie the restructuring proposals announced on 5 April.