§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's policy towards maintaining the public sector agricultural research and development base provided by his Department and the Agricultural and Food Research Council, and towards the maintenance of a public sector advisory service to the rural community through the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe July 1987 White Paper on civil research and development (Cm. 185) made it clear that we are intensifying our review of R and D priorities in order to increase the contribution which Government-funded work can make to the efficiency, competitiveness and innovative capacity of the United Kingdom economy.
832WMy Department is currently looking at its activities and those of the AFRC against this background and the Government's general view that industry should contribute to the cost of work from which it benefits.