§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the share of cuts to be 301W implemented under the Barnes review of agricultural research and development for each of the annual periods commencing from April 1989; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ryder[holding answer 9 November 1988]: Final decisions on the future level of Government funding of agricultural research and development following the Barnes review will not be made until after consultations with industry have been completed. As announced in November 1987, planned expenditure on R and D by agriculture departments will be reduced by £5 million in 1989–90 and by a further £5 million in 1990–91. This year's autumn statement announced a further £5 million reduction for 1990–91 and an additional £9 million for 1991–92. Together, these reductions amount to a total of £24 million by 1991–92, which is equivalent to £30 million at full: economic cost. However, there will be an increase in the strategic research funded from the agriculture, fisheries and food programme of £2 million in 1990–91 and a further £3 million in 1991–92.