§ Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the light of his Department's recent paper entitled "A Strategy for Agricultural Research and Development," he will make a statement indicating the amount of funds to be allocated to the agricultural engineering industry in Scotland and the source of those funds.
§ Mr. YoungerMy Department's strategy paper has been distributed widely as a consultation document and no decisions will be taken about the allocation of public funds for research and development in agricultural engineering work, or in any other subject area, until I have had the opportunity to consider responses to the paper. A further paper will be produced later this year outlining detailed proposals.
I have no plans to allocate any funds to the agricultural engineering industry.