§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the timetable for the prior options reviews of public sector research establishments outlined in the Government's response to the multi-departmental scrutiny of public sector research establishments (Cm 2991). [12682]
§ Mr. LangThe Government's response to the efficiency scrutiny announced our intention to carry out a programme of prior options reviews of public sector research establishments, with a view to the major part of the work being completed by the end of 1996.
Each review will address the relationship of establishments to others in similar or related fields and consider, amongst other things, the potential for privatisation or rationalisation. The results of these reviews will be considered by Ministers collectively.
The reviews will be carried out by the parent or sponsor Department or research council and are being phased as set out in the timetable. Each review will be announced and there will be an opportunity for interested parties to comment. Some of these announcements have already been made.
I am placing a copy of the guidelines for the conduct of these reviews in the Library of the House.
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Period 1: Reporting to ministers by March 1996 Establishment Parent or sponsor department/research council ADAS R and D Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Central Science Laboratory Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Directorate of Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture, Research Fisheries and Food Horticulture Research Ministry of Agriculture, International Fisheries and Food Fisheries Research Services Scottish Office Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Scottish Office Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Scottish Office Scottish Crop Research Institute Scottish Office Institute of Arable Crops Biotechnology and Biological Research Sciences Research Council Institute of Grassland and Biotechnology and Biological Environmental Research Sciences Research Council John Innes Centre Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Silsoe Research Institute Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Forestry Commision Research Laboratories Forestry Commission Daresbury and Rutherford Office of Science and Appleton Laboratories Technology/Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils Building Research Establishment Department of the Environment
Period 1: Reporting to ministers by March 1996 Establishment Parent or sponsor department/research council Health and Safety Laboratory National Weights and Measures Laboratory Health and Safety Executive Department of Trade and Industry Police Scientific Development Branch Home Office
Period 2: Reporting to ministers by July 1996 Establishment Parent or sponsor department/research council Veterinary Laboratories Agency Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Moredun Research Institute Scottish Office Hannah Research Institute Scottish Office Babraham Institute Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Institute for Animal Health Roslin Institute Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Roslin Institute Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council British Geological Survey Natural Environment Research Council Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences (comprising: Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory) Natural Environment Research Council Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (comprising: Institute of Freshwater Ecology, Institute of Hydrology, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology) Natural Environment Research Council
Period 3: Reporting to ministers by December 1996 Establishment Parent or sponsor department/research council National Institute for Biological Standards and Control Department of Health National Radiological Protection Board Department of Health Public Health Laboratory Service Department of Health Rowett Research Institute Scottish Office Institute of Food Research Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Dunn Nutrition Unit Radiobiology Unit Medical Research Council Reproductive Biology Unit Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit Medical Research Council Virology Unit Medical Research Council