HC Deb 10 December 2002 vol 396 c195W
Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her strategy for horticultural renewal and development. [85216]

Mr. Morley

We plan to publish early next year for public comment, a draft Science and Innovation Strategy. This will be accompanied by more detailed proposals for programmes of research including horticulture.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish Professor Sir Colin Spedding's "Vision for Horticulture". [85217]

Mr. Morley

Sir Colin Spedding's report "A Vision for Horticulture" was published in draft for consultation on 29 January. The final version of the report, which was substantially unchanged from the draft, was submitted to the Department in March and is available on the Defra website and in the Library of the House.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of the East Mailing Organic Horticultural Research Unit; and when it was completed. [85215]

Mr. Morley

The Organic Research Centre cost £2.761 million of which £2.261 million was provided, following a competition for projects, by the Treasury's Capital Modernisation Fund; and £500,000 by the East Mailing Trust for Horticultural Research. The Centre was completed in August 2002 and opened on 20 September 2002.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) cost and (b) annual salary will be of restructuring HRI after its quinquennial review. [85218]

Mr. Morley

The costs of restructuring HRI will depend on the options chosen for successor organisations. We are considering these and hope to make an announcement shortly.