§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what has been the Government contribution to the running costs of the vegetable gene bank at Wellsbourne, Stratford upon Avon, in each of the years since it was established;
(2) if he intends to make it his policy to meet the future running costs of the vegetable gene bank at Wellsbourne, Stratford upon Avon.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 5 July 1988]: The vegetable gene bank is maintained within the Institute of Horticultural Research of the Agricultural and Food Research Council and as such receives some support from the science Vote of the Department of Education and Science. However, the majority of the running costs have been met by Oxfam and contributions of £30,000 per annum from my Department. Oxfam has recently withdrawn its support, but alternative sources of funding are being sought and my Department has increased its contribution to £60,000 for 1988–89. The research and development programmes of Agricultural Departments are under review.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the contribution to research and development of the vegetable gene bank at Wellsbourne, Stratford upon Avon.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 5 July 1988]: All the work of the Institute of Horticultural Research funded by my Department was considered in the recent review of near market research and development, but no specific assessment of the contribution of the vegetable 618W gene bank has been made by my Department. However, it is clear that the gene bank provides a resource for plant breeders in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world.