§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what effects he estimates the reductions in the budgets of the research institutes of the Agricultural and Food Research Council in 1986–87 and 1987–88 will have upon future animal health and disease control in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. WaldenFollowing the public expenditure decisions for 1986–87 and 1987–88 the Government funded programme of research on animal diseases to be carried out at Agricultural and Food Research Council institutes has had to be significantly reduced. However, I understand that the council has made every effort to maintain research programmes of the highest quality and maximum productivity. Furthermore, the industry has been invited to contribute to the funding of such work from which it benefits. The Government are hopeful of achieving a fruitful partnership with industry that will help to ensure that the animal health and disease control needs of the United Kingdom are fully met. The need to maintain levels of expertise in important areas of research and development relating to animal disease control and animal welfare and to balance the research with the future needs of the industry have been major determinants of the Government funded programme.