§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1992,Official Report, columns 341–42, if he will give a breakdown of the use of the further £140,000 allocated to the work of the National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria Ltd. for 1993–94; and what assessment he has now made of the long-term value of the collections as a national scientific resource.
§ Mr. CurryThe further £140,000 provided for NCIMB Ltd. is a reduction on the previous allocation but is the level of aid which will enable the company to remain in operation until March 1994. The Ministry has not stipulated the precise apportionment of this money between the various operating costs of the company but I understand the bulk of these funds will be used to pay the staff who maintain the collections.
The long-term value of the collections as a national scientific resource is being considered by the Office of Science and Technology and I refer the hon. Member to the answer that he received on 17 December from my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Office of Public Service and Science (Official Report, column 351).