HC Deb 04 July 1989 vol 156 cc109-10W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the projects at the Torry research station in Aberdeen which will be discontinued as a result of the Barnes review; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Donald Thompson

The projects which are to be discontinued are as followsPlant design—the development of monitoring and control systems The design and development of a multipass freezer Energy utilisation in fish processing A study of fundamental principles in the design and development of new smoking processes Development of a machine to produce uncoated formed fillets Processing machinery—separation of meat from shell fish to improve yield Microbial spoilage of packaged fish and shell fish with a view to devising and applying methods of extending shelflife Innovation of fish and shell fish products and relevant process technology Shell fish processing with a view to more efficient utilisation Textural modification of recovered flesh Improved chilling and handling of sea fish and farmed fish to improve yield and quality Innovation and characterisation of added value products from industrial and waste fish resources and development of relevant new pilot plant processes or existing processes Improvements in the efficiency of processing fish and smoking Investigation of chemical/physical methods of reducing the rate of deterioration of bulk-stored fish at sea Assessment of the requirements for the introduction of freezing-at-sea on small fishing vessels Study of cultured fish in relation to general quality aspects and to their suitability for processing The efficient use of recovered fish flesh for human consumption Applications of electronics and physical sensors in fish processing

Detailed information on these was placed in the Library on 20 February 1989 and steps are now being taken to implement the decisions announced in the reply given on 28 June 1989 to my right hon. Friend the Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Buchanan-Smith), c. 466.