§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support is being given to the maintenance and development of the bacterial culture collection in Aberdeen; and whether the level of that support will increase in the current year. [62028]
§ Ms HewittI have been asked to reply.
Support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) for the bacteria culture collection—the National Industrial and Environmental Culture Collections (NIECC)—in Aberdeen totalled £197,000 over the 12 month period to 31 July 2002. BBSRC is currently reviewing future funding for the collection in the light of a significant decrease in demand for cultures from UK industry and academic centres over the last three years.