§ 20. Mr. NellistTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement about the future of research and development in his Ministry.
§ Mr. MacGregorMy Department remains firmly committed to supporting strategic research and work of a public good nature in relation to issues such as food safety, environmental protection and animals welfare. We are engaged in talks with the industry on the Government's decisions that it will in future look to the industry to fund within a reasonable timescale near-market research which is primarily of benefit to the industry.