HL Deb 10 July 1989 vol 510 cc88-90WA
Lord Westbury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether following the reply to the Lord Brougham and Vaux on 21st March (col. 672), there are any further proposals on the closure in 1989–90 of the experimental centres at Brogdale, Liscombe, Luddington and Rosewarne.

Baroness Trumpington

There have been full consultations about funding of the experimental centres proposed for closure in my statement of 21st March 1989.

As regards Liscombe Experimental Husbandry Farm, a local industry consortium called Liscombe Research has secured a significant level of commitments by industry to fund a programme of near-market research and development. In view of the progress that has been made, my right honourable friend the Minister has decided that Liscombe Experimental Husbandry Farm will not close in 1989–90 as originally proposed, in order to give the consortium more time to collect the balance of funds needed to meet the costs of such a research and development programme in 1991–92. A decision on whether Liscombe Experimental Husbandry Farm can be kept open will be taken later this year when we have reviewed with Liscombe Research the funding arrangements which they are able to agree to for the next few years.

No viable industry funding proposals have been received in relation to the Experimental Horticultural Stations at Luddington and Rosewarne. These stations will accordingly be closed for research and development purposes by 30th November 1989 and arrangements put in hand for disposal of land and facilities surplus to requirements.

Nor has any viable industry funding proposal been received in relation to the Brogdale Experimental Horticultural Station. A decision on the details relating to the closure of this station will be announced later in 1989 when the Government have completed their discussions on arrangements for preserving the National Fruit Collection and its associated records which are currently located at Brogdale.