§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the time of his Department's review team which investigated plant variety testing and seed certification systems in the United Kingdom was spent in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 23 May 1988]: Members of the review team made three visits to Scotland, one visit to Wales and one visit to Northern Ireland. In England the team held meetings with various organisations, some of which represented interests for the United Kingdom as a whole. In addition, the team liaised closely with officials in all the Agriculture Departments and with members of the United Kingdom Seeds Executive.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will name the officials of his Department who conducted the review of plant variety testing and seed certification systems in the United Kingdom, giving any relevant information about their qualifications and experience, and making particular reference to any experience connected to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
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§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 23 May 1988]: The names of the four officials who conducted the review are shown in the report on "The Plant Variety Testing and Seed Certification Systems in the United Kingdom." A copy of the report is available in the Library of the House. The team of officials was headed by the controller of plant variety rights for the United Kingdom who is also a member of the United Kingdom Seeds Executive. The team included the chairman of two senior interdepartmental committees with responsibilities for plant variety testing and seed certification matters in the United Kingdom. It is not Government policy to disclose personal details of the qualifications and experience of individual officials.