HC Deb 01 December 1988 vol 142 cc325-6W
47. Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline his plans for the future of pesticides research; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ryder

The crop protection R and D commission, upon which my Department spent around £8 million in 1987–88, is under review at present. The research consultative committee's report on invertebrate pests, diseases and weeds in growing crops was published in May 1987 and a report on the protection of stored and growing crops is expected to be published around the end of this year. Much of the work is of a public good nature and thus unlikely to be significantly affected by the current review of near market research.