§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 27 March,Official Report, column 606, what are the reasons for the reduction in the number of scientists at the Institute of Animal Health between 1993 and 1995. [25186]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorThe change in number of scientists employed at the Institute of Animal Health's Neuropathogenesis Unit between 1993 and 1996, as given in my previous answer, was largely due to the expiry of a number of fixed-term contracts. In particular, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council refocused its BSE programme, winding down the first and introducing a second phase. This involved first a reduction and then an increase in number of staff. As far as possible, continuity of research effort has been maintained.