§ Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make it his policy in considering any organisational changes to the agriculture and food research service to preserve the integrated research and development structure of Scottish agricultual institutes and Scottish colleges of agriculture;
(2) if he will make it his policy to maintain the independent status of Scottish agricultural research institutes;
(3) if he will make it his policy, in considering the conclusions of the agriculture and food research service report, "A Long Term View", to maintain the links between research institutes and their governing bodies.
§ Mr. YoungerThe replies to my Department's consultation paper on the strategy for agricultural research and development are currently being considered as are the replies to the Agricultural and Food Research Council's discussion paper "A Long Term View". It is therefore too soon to come to any firm conclusions about the future organisation of agricultural research and development in Scotland. There are however no proposals to alter the present arrangements under which I am responsible for the Scottish agricultural research institutes and for the Scottish agricultural colleges.