HC Deb 14 December 1998 vol 322 cc412-3W
Ms Roseanna Cunningham

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much is spent annually by his Department on research programmes in Scotland; and what proportion of this funding will be transferred to the Scottish Parliament after devolution. [63284]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 10 December 1998]: The Ministry funds research to underpin its policy objectives. Decisions on the placing of research contracts are based on the scientific quality and value for money of research proposals and not on the geographical location of contractors. The Ministry paid some £8 million for research projects in Scotland in 1997–98, including projects carried out at Research Council institutes and universities. Post-devolution, the Ministry and the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department will continue to co-operate fully, through the Funders' Group arrangements, to ensure that R&D funded by both departments remains closely co-ordinated and that the results are shared.

Ms Roseanna Cunningham

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the programmes which it will be ultra vires for his Department to fund or have sole responsibility for after devolution; if he will list these programmes; and if he will make a statement; [63286]

(2) if he will list (a) by programme over £50,000 and (b) the total spending by his Department in Scotland on the identifiable spending areas detailed in Table 7.6A of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 1997–98 (Cmnd 3601); which of these programmes will fall solely or jointly under the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament; and what arrangements are in place to transfer control of funds for these projects to the Scottish Executive or Parliament. [63285]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 10 December 1998]: Most functions in the agriculture, fisheries and food area will become the responsibility of the devolved administrations following devolution. It is too early to say to what extent programme expenditure which is currently administered by MAFF may relate to functions which will transfer to Scottish Ministers. For the total spending by the Department in Scotland I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Mr. Swinney) on 4 November 1998, Official Report, columns 614–15.