§ Mr. Beithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is his intention to continue financing the work necessary to enable the national soil survey on the 1 to 50,000 scale to be completed.
§ Mrs. FennerWe are considering our funding of the work of the soil survey of England and Wales—£1.9 million in 1983–84—following my Ministry's recent review of commissioned research and development in soil science.
The Survey is a part of the Agriculture and Food Research Council organisation. We shall be considering the views of the Council and also consulting the new Priorities Board for Research and Development in Agriculture and Food about the future of the Survey. Until we have considered these views I am unable to comment on the future financing of the national survey on the 1 to 50,000 scale.