§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list by grade the current establishment at his Ministry's site at Sand Hutton, north Yorkshire; what is the current funding; what percentage of the funding is for salaries; and what were the equivalent figures 12 months ago; [32996]
(2) if he will list the types of work currently being carried out at his Ministry's site at Sand Hutton, north Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [32997]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI have asked the chief executive of the Central Science Laboratory to reply direct.
Letter from P. I. Stanley to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 16 October 1995:
THE STAFFING, FUNDING AND WORK OF THE CENTRAL SCIENCE LABORATORY, SAND HUTTON, N. YORKSHIRE
You asked two questions about the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) laboratory at Sand Hutton and it may be helpful if I first of all explain the present situation. [32996 & 32997]
The Central Science Laboratory (CSL) was first launched as an executive agency of MAFF in April 1992 and was re-launched as an enlarged agency two years later following its merger with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) Food Science Laboratories.
CSL provides a wide range of scientific services to its major customer, MAFF including policy advice, technical support and training, underpinned by research and development (R&D) in the areas of plant health, the authenticity, safety and nutritional value of the food supply; pesticide safety: veterinary residues; the control of pests and diseases of growing and stored foodstuffs; wildlife management and the impact of food production on the environment and the consumer. In addition CSL offers R&D and advice to other Government Departments and public and private sector organisations on a commercial basis.
CSL is currently located at five major sites in Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Norfolk and Grampian and at several smaller sites throughout the Country. It is planned to relocate the major part of the Agency in summer 1996 to Sand Hutton, N Yorkshire, where a new purpose-built laboratory is at present under construction. The types of work carried out at existing CSL sites and described above will also be carried out at the new site. Precise information about grades and salaries at Sand Hutton are not yet available but I expect that in total about 450 staff will be employed at the new laboratory.
CSL income in the 1994/95 financial year was £26.267K and staff costs amounted to £14.414K (55%). In the previous financial year respective figures were £16.908K and £9.427K (56%). The increase in income and costs in 1994/95 was the direct result of the enlargement of the Agency following its merger with the MAFF Food Science Laboratories at Norwich and Aberdeen. CSL's published Annual Reports and Accounts give full details and copies should be available in the House Library.
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