HC Deb 13 March 1997 vol 292 cc353-5W
Dr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many purpose-built laboratories in Government-funded food and agricultural science establishments are mothballed; and if he will list each establishment with such a laboratory. [19921]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

No laboratories owned by the Ministry have been mothballed. However, some have been closed permanently as a result of reorganisation and restructuring or following the completion of new or modernised facilities. I have no information about laboratories not owned by the Ministry.

Dr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of laboratory capacity in Government-funded food and agricultural science establishments built in (a) 1980 to 1985 (b) 1985 to 1990, (c) 1990 to 1995 and (d) 1995 to date, has been mothballed. [19922]

Mr. Hogg

No laboratories owned by the Ministry have been mothballed. I have no information about laboratories not owned by the Ministry.

Dr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the Government-funded food and agricultural science sites vacated since 1980, indicating(a) those in which the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, other research councils and agencies, service or central laboratories retain the freehold or lease, (b) the estimated commercial sales value of each facility and (c) the length of time each has been vacant. [19923]

Mr. Hogg

Since 1980, the Ministry has vacated, either wholly or in part, the laboratories as listed. Prior to 1990, surplus accommodation was surrendered to the Property Services Agency for reuse by other Government Departments or disposal. I have no information about the way in which such properties may have been reused or disposed of or about their commercial values. The Ministry has not disposed of any laboratories since 1990 although some are due to be sold for redevelopment in the near future.

It would be inappropriate to release estimated values for properties which have yet to be sold as this might affect adversely the amounts that buyers would be prepared to pay for them. I have no information about vacant laboratories owned freehold or leasehold by other Government Departments or by other organisations.

Laboratories vacated by the Ministry of Agriculture since 1980
Laboratory Date vacated
ADAS Laboratories at Shardlow Hall, Derbyshire 1986
ADAS Laboratories at Olantigh Road, Wye, Nr Ashford, Kent 1986
ADAS Laboratories at Coley Park, Reading 1995
ADAS Laboratories at Starcross Nr Exeter, Devon 1995
ADAS Laboratories at Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge 1995
ADAS Laboratories at Lawnswood, Leeds 1995
ADAS Laboratories at Trawsgoed, Nr Aberystwyth 1995
Food Science Laboratories at Romeny Street, London SW1 1990
Food Science Laboratories at Haldean House, Norwich 1990
Torry Research Station, Aberdeen 1996
The Central Science Laboratory, Tolworth, Surrey 1992
The Central Science Laboratory, Harpenden, Herts 1996
The Central Science Laboratory, London Road, Slough 1996
The Central Science Laboratory, Luddington, Warwickshire 1996
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Gabalfa, Cardiff 1986
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Chester 1986
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Elmbridge Court, Gloucester 1986
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Gladstone Road, Northampton 1986
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Coley Park, Reading 1994
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Lawnswood, Leeds 1990
The Veterinary Investigation Centre,

Laboratories vacated by the Ministry of Agriculture since 1980
Laboratory Date vacated
Riseholme, Lincoln 1996
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Madingley Road, Cambridge 1993
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Weybridge, Surrey 1980
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Jupiter Road, Norwich 1993
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Wye Nr Ashford, Kent 1992
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Whittington Road, Worcester 1993
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Bangor, North Wales 1991
Horticultural Laboratories at Worthing Road, Littlehampton 1995
Surrendered to the Ministry by Horticulture Research International.

Since 1980, a number of new laboratories have been built and others have been either rebuilt or substantially refurbished. These are listed.

New laboratories Date built
The Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton York 1996
The Food Science Laboratory, Colney Lane, Norwich 1990
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Bury St. Edmunds 1993
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Luddington, Warwickshire 1993

Rebuilt/refurbished laboratories Date rebuilt/ refurbished
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Starcross, Devon 1993
ADAS Laboratory, Wergs Road, Wolverhampton 1992
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, West House, Thirsk 1996
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Calthwaite, Penrith 1996
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Sutton Bonnington 1990
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Itchen Abbas, Winchester 1994
The Veterinary Investigation Centre, Barton Hall, Preston 1985