§ Lord Bleaseasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they propose to publish, separately, the specific implications for Northern Ireland agriculture arising from the Barnes Review, and in particular the implications for the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland (DANI) Science Service, including the anticipated effects on the numbers of scientists directly employed and their terms of employment.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Lyell)The Barnes Review of research and development in United Kingdom agriculture departments contained confidential advice to Ministers and will not be published. Ministers are considering the review in the context of a declared policy to withdraw public funding for research and development which is close to commercial application. Due account will be taken of the special factors which pertain in the agricultural economy of Northern Ireland and of the consultations which are in progress with Northern Ireland industry representatives. It is not possible at present to assess the implications for the Department of Agriculture's Science Service.