HC Deb 20 March 1975 vol 888 cc472-3W
59. Mr. Charles Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the current shortages and prices of food, he will restore the Government grant for agricultural research to at least its previous level and resume recruiting for the Agricultural Research Service.

Mr. Prentice:

In real terms, the total funds available to the Agricultural Research Council in 1975–76 will only be ½ per cent. less than in the current year. This reflects the advice I have received from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils, regarding the relative priorities of agricultural research and those of other Research Council fields in 1975–76, when the total finance available for all Research Councils will fall by over 1 per cent.

Policy on recruitment to research establishments supported by the Agricultural Research Council is a matter for the council to decide.

The level of grants to the eight independent research institutes which form part of the Agricultural Research Service in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.