§ Lord Lyellasked Her Majesty's Government:
To describe the extent to which research and development on environmental issues is currently funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is spending about £50 million a year on R&D related to environmental issues, almost half of the department's total expenditure on R&D of about £120 million. This is a very significant level and underlines the department's commitment to the soundest science on which to base our policies now and in the future.
I am pleased to announce the publication today of a brochure describing the wide range of environmental R&D which the department has commissioned on such issues as conservation; water, air and soil protection; pests and pesticides; climate change; farm woodlands and set-aside; flood and coastal defence; genetic conservation and modification; and protection of fisheries and the marine environment. This brochure has been placed in both Libraries.