§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many research528W medical or scientific staff in his Department with expertise in (a) egg production, (b) milk and cheese production, (c) food poisoning and (d) consumer demand there were in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1988.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 16 February 1989]: Details are as follows:
1979 1988 (a) Egg production 418 325 (b) Milk and cheese production 473 377 (c) Questions relating to food poisoning are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. (d) Expertise in consumer demand is available widely in the Ministry for different commodities. Total staff numbers could not be ascertained without disproportionate cost.