§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the number of job losses as a consequence of the implementation of the review into plant variety testing and seed certification; and where such job losses will occur.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 14 June 1988]: A report on the plant variety testing and seed certification systems in the United Kingdom was published on 14 April 1988. All interested parties have been invited to comment by 15 July 1988. No decisions will be taken on the implementation of the report's recommendations until after comments have been received and given full consideration. It is premature, therefore, to estimate whether any job losses will occur.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in theOfficial Report the number of visits made by those responsible for the review of plant variety testing and seed certification to locations in Scotland, the places visited, the number of individuals consulted in each location and the length of time of each interview.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 14 June 1988]: Three visits were made by the review team to Scotland, where the following meetings were held:
Date Organisation Location Number of individuals 27 May 1987 Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Edinburgh 9 28 May 1987 Representatives of the industry in Scotland Edinburgh 15 27 July 1987 Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Edinburgh 4 27 July 1987 Representatives of the Scottish Agricultural Colleges and the Scottish Agricultural Statistics Service Perth 11 28 July 1987 Representatives of the Scottish Crop Research Institute and Caithness Potato Breeders Ltd Dundee 10 27 January 1988 Representatives of the Scottish Office Trade Union Side Edinburgh 9 The number of individuals shown excludes members of the review team, but includes officials of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. Each meeting lasted approximately half a day, except for a shorter meeting with the Scottish Office trade union side.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in theOfficial Report a list of those individuals and organisations who have made representations on the potential effects of the implementation of the recommendations of the recent review on plant variety testing and seed indentification.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 14 June 1988]Individuals and organisations have until 15 July 1988 to comment on the report on the plant variety testing and seed certification systems in the United Kingdom. Up until 10 June 1988, written representations were received from the following persons and organizations:230W
- The British Association of Seed Analysts.
- The Hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. David Clark) on behalf of Ms. D. M. Davidson.
- The Institution of Professional Civil Servants—Scottish Branch Section O.
- Nickerson Seed Investments Ltd.
- The Scots Timothy Seed Growers' Association.
- Mr. B. Snoad—John Powling Seeds.
- The United Kingdom Agricultural Supply Trade Association Ltd. (Scottish Council).