HL Deb 17 October 1989 vol 511 cc904-6WA
Lord Brougham and Vaux

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have for the future organisation of horticultural research and development.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)

My right honourable friends the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have decided that the horticultural research and development carried out by the Agricultural Food Research Council and by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service should be integrated under a reconstituted British Society for Horticultural Research (BSHR).

This will be headed by a small and strong executive committee, reporting to my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and reflecting the tripartite partnership of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural and Food Research Council and growers, each of whom will have equal representation. Members of the committee, which will include growers, will be appointed by my right honourable friends the minister and the Secretary of State. Growers will thus have an influential and effective voice in the new organisation, which will be able to receive funds directly from a range of sources including MAFF, the AFRC and the industry.

BSHR will have available to it the facilities at six horticultural research centres. These will be Wellesbourne (which, as already announced, will become the principal horticultural research station), East Mailing (centre for fruit and other perennial crops R&D), the centre for hops research at Wye College, and the Experimental Horticulture Stations at Kirton, Efford and Stockbridge House. The new organisation will bring together the expertise and effort of staff drawn from the AFRC and from ADAS.

The Government believe that bringing the elements of horticultural R&D together in this way will provide a sound basis for the future. Naturally, the Government's support for BSHR will be influenced by the industry's response, since growers' support will be essential to provide the balanced programme of R&D needed to safeguard the future of British horticulture in a highly competitive international market. We believe this new integrated organisation will command the confidence of the industry. We are sure that all the partners will work together to bring about a successful launch.