§ 69. Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the future of the institutes of food research in Reading, Norwich and Bristol.
Mr. JacksonThe AFRC has taken the decision, consistent with the policy outlined in its corporate plan, to consolidate the work of the Institute of Food Research at the Reading and Norwich sites and to secure the future of the laboratories. The restructured institute will allow for greater emphasis on key areas such as food safety. The laboratory at Langford, Bristol will cease to be part of the institute by the end of 1990.
§ 70. Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many research workers will be made redundant by the closure of the food research centre at Bristol; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. JacksonAlthough there will be redundancies arising from the withdrawal of AFRC funding from the Bristol laboratory of the Institute of Food Research, it is not possible at this stage to state precisely the number of research workers involved. The detailed implementation of staffing changes for the institute as a whole, following the restructuring plan announced by AFRC, is now being determined; every effort will be made to keep compulsory redundancies to a minimum. With respect to the Bristol laboratory, there will be opportunities for the redeployment of some of its scientists, to new scientific posts and other vacancies within the remaining institute laboratories at Reading and Norwich, within the agricultural and food research service and elsewhere.