HC Deb 11 April 1984 vol 58 cc237-8W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the budget allocated to the Welsh plant breeding research station for 1984–85 and in each of the five preceding years; and what percentage this represents of the Agriculture and Food Research Council's total budget.

Mr. Brooke

Details of the Agricultural and Food Research Council's recurrent budget for institutes and its allocations to the Welsh plant breeding station are as follows:

£ million
Financial Year (a) Recurrent budget for Institutes (b) WPBS recurrent budget (b) as a per cent, of (a)
1980–81 59.74 2.57 4.3
1981–82 67.95 2.86 4.2
1982–83 70.74 2.97 4.2
1983–84 72.56 3.22 4.4
1984–85 73.45 3.00 4.1

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated saving arising from the reduction in the budget for the Welsh plant breeding research station in the coming year; and how many jobs will be lost as a result of the cut in the budget allocation.

Mr. Brooke

I understand that the Agricultural and Food Research Council's estimate of the recurrent funds likely to be available to the Welsh plant breeding station over the next three years is as follows:

Year £ million
1984–85 3.00
1985–86 3.04
1986–87 3.08

In order to remain within these cash limits, annual savings of £300,000 will be needed by 1987. Furthermore, annual savings of £200,000 will result from the council's decision to stop barley breeding at the station. These savings will entail the loss of up to 40 posts in the period. Every effort will be made to secure reductions in staffing by natural wastage and early retirement, but some compulsary redundancies may be necessary.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of the new barley seed hybrid being developed at the Welsh plant breeding research station; and if he will provide the financial resources necessary to complete the project.

Mr. Brooke

The allocation of resources among the various research programmes under its control is a matter for the Agricultural and Food Research Council. I understand that, following its strategic review of programmes, the council has decided that spring barley breeding at the Welsh plant breeding station, including speculative research work on a system for producing F1 hybrid barley, will be stopped in 1984–85.