§ Hugh RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made on the review into the future of horticultural research. [108068]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 8 April 20031Following the Government response to the Quinquennial Review of Horticultural Research International (HRI) announced on 20 January, Defra has been engaged in negotiations with HRI, the University of Warwick and the East Mailing Trust to establish whether the scenarios recommended by the Quinquennial Review team are achievable and affordable and whether any further Government investment is necessary.
Good progress has been made. All the policy, legal and financial issues which need to be addressed have been identified and action has been put in hand to take them forward. This work will underpin the business cases which will inform the Government's detailed decisions on the new bodies intended to replace HRI.
HRI is an exceptionally complex business and it has not proved possible to conclude the initial phase of the negotiations by the end of March as we had hoped. We are still working towards the original target date of 1 April 2004 for the new bodies to be operational.
The Department is appreciative of the positive and committed way in which all the parties engaged in these delicate negotiations are working together to achieve a successful and stable future for HRI. It is optimistic that it will be in a position to make a more definitive announcement in the near future.