§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the fact that weeds damage crops more than pests and disease, he will allocate greater funds to the former; and what level of expenditure is anticipated on research into weeds by the Agricultural and Food Research Council.
§ Mr. BrookeIt is for the Agricultural and Food Research Council to decide its scientific priorities within the total resources it has at its disposal. The size of the AFRC's grant-in-aid from the science budget is determined by my right hon. Friend with advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils. The AFRC's corporate plan, of which a copy is in the Library, envisages a reduction in recurrent expenditure on arable crop protection work. By 1986–87 this reduction is likely to have reached £1.4 million compared with previously planned expenditure for that year; this represents about 20 per cent. of the present programme. That reduced level of activity is intended to be maintained at the same level thereafter. I understand that it is too early to say what the level of expenditure on weed research will be within the reduced programme, which is to be consolidated at the council's Long Ashton research station.