§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future of the Marine Research Laboratory in Burnham-on-Crouch. [43209]
§ Mr. MorleyThe laboratory at Burnham-on-Crouch is part of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), an Executive Agency of the Department. As part of its obligation to provide an efficient and effective scientific service, CEFAS is reviewing its long-term requirements for sites and specialist research facilities. The objective of the review is to ensure that CEFAS has appropriate facilities to support first class science, whilst recognising the need for the Agency to recover its full costs and offer affordable services. It is essential to develop flexible facilities, so that CEFAS can respond quickly to changing work opportunities.
The current work programme at Burnham fully occupies the site, and staff numbers have been increasing. There is no expectation that this situation will change significantly in the near future. The estate review will aim to establish the long-term costs and benefits of maintaining all CEFAS sites, including that at Burnham. It will assess the need for future investment in facilities, taking account of the views of the MAFF customers who commission work at CEFAS on their likely requirements, and on the prospects of acquiring new non-MAFF business.