§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if the Agriculture and Food Research Council through the Welsh Plant Breeding Station at Aberystwyth is considering investigating alternatives to current grassland and animal farming systems in the wetter western portions of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what proportion of the combined budget of the new animal and grassland research institute will be spent at the Welsh Plant Breeding Station Aberystwyth; and if he will make a statement;
790W(3) if he will ensure that the Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth will remain active in the research on oat breeding and related research; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if forage breeding and the related genetic expertise will form an important part of the Agriculture and Food Research Council's grassland research programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenI understand that the Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC) is committed to a strong research programme at the Welsh Plant Breeding Station (WPBS) related to the needs of livestock and grassland enterprises in the wetter west of Britain. Within this broad remit the precise content and balance of the research programme at the WPBS will be determined by the director of animal production and grassland research in the light of a number of factors including the level of his institute's grant-in-aid from the science budget through the AFRC, the commissioning needs of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and industrial and scientific advice available to him.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the grades of the new posts of the director of research and of site directors of the new animal and grassland reseach insitutue of the Agriculture and Food Research Council; what will he the preferred specialisations of the successful candidates; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenNo decision has yet been taken about the grade of the new post of director of the AFRC's animal production and grassland research institute. I understand that the successful candidate will be chosen on the basis of proven leadership ability in the relevant scientific discipline. I also understand that the management of sites within the new institute, including the grades of the heads of sites, will be a matter on which the director, when appointed, will be invited to make proposals.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what esimate he has of the Agriculture and Food Research Council's long-term commitment to its breeding programmes on various crops at its institutes under the reorganisation programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenThe Agricultural and Food Research Council's document "Forward Policy", which was published in October 1985, explained that crop breeding together with crop production and crop protection research will be a component of the research programmes of the council's new arable crops and horticultural research institutes. I understand that the AFRC is considering ways of increasing industrial funding of its plant breeding programmes.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the cuts in expenditure announced by the Agriculture and Food Research Council in September conform with the views of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food priorities board in relation to the Welsh Plant Breeding Station; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenI understand that the reductions announced in September reflected reductions in work commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from April 1986. They include some reductions 791W in strategic work on crop physiology and grass cytogenetics and carried out with funds from the science budget. These changes in programmes are consistent with the interim advice given to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by the priorities board for research and development in agriculture and food.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy on the length of appointments at the Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth.
§ Mr. WaldenAlthough their employer is the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, I understand that the staff of the Welsh Plant Breeding Station are appointed on the standard terms and conditions of service of the Agricultural and Food Research Service. For staff on permanent appointments the normal retirement age is 60. In addition, fixed-term appointments are made from time to time to meet short-term requirements.