§ Mr. ThomasonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how his Department contributes to the Government's policy for science and technology.
§ Mr. GummerMy Ministry is a science-based Department. It employs more graduate scientists and engineers than any other civil Department. The continual availability of reliable scientific information and expertise is essential to me for the sound formation, appraisal, implementation and evaluation of the Ministry's policies. 597W These are concerned with major aspects both of quality of life and economic performance, including public safety, animal welfare, environmental enhancement, and improving the economic performance of the agricultural, fishing and food industries.
The Ministry's scientific and technical activities range over provision of timely and objective specialist advice to Ministers, monitoring and surveillance, scientific investigation, formulation and management of policy-related research programmes, and promotion of technology transfer.
The Ministry will continue to depend on its own scientific services and those from external contractors in the public and private sectors. The Ministry's choice of supplier will in every case be determined according to its judgment of suitability, scientific capability and value for money to meet its policy needs.
I welcome the publication today of the White Paper "Science and Technology" by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and in particular its recognition of the key role of civil Departments in determining their own needs and commissioning work from suppliers who compete to meet their specifications. I very much support the White Paper's emphasis on ensuring that the status of research establishments in the public sector is optimal for Departments to obtain the services which they need.
My Department has been in the forefront of this process. I have already carefully reviewed the options for ownership and management of the Ministry's scientific facilities, the outcome of which has been the recent establishment of the Central Veterinary Laboratory, ADAS and the Central Science Laboratory as departmental agencies, and decisions that the food laboratories should acquire a similar status within the Central Science Laboratory. The scrutiny announced in today's White Paper will take account of such reviews which have already been completed, recognising that science and technology are integral to the missions of Departments and that changes should not weaken the effective provision of scientific expertise and advice.