§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was Government spending on research and development relating to(a) organic farming, (b) agricultural genetic engineering and (c) agricultural biotechnology, at 1999 prices, from 1 April 1999 to the latest available date. [108638]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 4 February 2000]: Planned MAFF spending in 1999–2000 in these areas is as follows:
£ million (a) Organic farming 2.017 (b) Agricultural genetic engineering (including risk assessment and relevant veterinary research) 3.572 (c) Agricultural biotechnology ca 24.0 Notes:
1. Organic farming benefits also from much of the research the Ministry undertakes on aspects of conventional farming. In 1999–2000, MAFF plans to spend some £8 million on biological control techniques, plant health, animal welfare and wildlife conservation on farms.
2. Funding is also provided by the research councils and other Government Departments for these topics.
204WIn the time available, it is not possible to provide figures for actual in-year spending to date from 1 April 1999. These would, in any event, reflect the particular phasing of payments for individual projects, and the invoicing arrangements across a substantial number of contractors, and thus be potentially misleading.