§ Ann ClwydTo ask die Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his annual budget for poultry science research and development was in(a) 1998 and (b) 1999; and in each of those years what proportion of this budget was spent on research aimed at increasing broiler chicken (i) growth rate and (ii) feed efficiency. [136155]
§ Ms QuinThe annual budget for poultry science research and development was £1.0 million in 1998 and £940,000 in 1999. In addition, a further £1.66 million and £1.44 million were spent in 1998 and 1999 respectively on animal welfare projects relevant to poultry nutrition and welfare. There were no projects during 1998–99 aimed at increasing standard broiler chicken growth rate. The work we are funding on increasing broiler chicken feed efficiency in 1998–99 was £325,000 and £338,000 in 1999–2000. This research is driven by a need—with the reduction in pollutants in mind—to move away from the use of animal proteins in chicken feed and to utilise home grown sources of proteins.