§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about forthcoming prior options reviews of institutes sponsored by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. [3071]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorThe Government announced on 29 September 1995 that all public sector research establishments would be subject to prior options reviews.
The BBSRC's arrangements for sponsoring the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Institute of Arable Crops Research, Silsoe Research Institute and the John Innes Centre will be reviewed immediately. Other research council research establishments will be reviewed in the course of 1996.
413WThese reviews will take place alongside those of establishments parented or sponsored by other Government Departments which are carrying out work in similar or related fields. The reviews will build on any relevant recent studies.
I should welcome comments from interested parties. Comments should be sent by 8 January 1996 to:
Dr. M. Anderson, BBSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1UH in respect of the IACR and SRI, and to Dr. Vincent Essex at the same address in respect of IGER and the JIC.