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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she had made of the effects the restructuring at the Institute for Animal Health will have on research into (a) BSE, (b) milk quality, (c) streptococcal pathogenicity, (d) pestiviruses, (e) porcine immunology, (f) avian pox virus, (g) avian leucosis, (h) Marek's disease and (i) respiratory syncitial virus. [219738] Mr. Bradshaw: [holding answer 3 March 2005]: In line with the evolving needs and requirements placed on such an institute the IAH management have developed a five-year strategy, within which decisions have been reached to no longer continue certain areas of work, this is to reflect changing priorities in part governed by financial constraints. Throughout the process of strategic planning the IAH management have been mindful to ensure that the Institute will be able both to maintain the depth of its research activity and to develop the financial capability to work on important new areas of science as they arise. With respect to work on BSE and more general TSE research, this remains of critical importance to the Institute, with approximately 20 per cent. of the research capability devoted to this area. The changes being made will not have a significant impact on the Institute's ability to deliver its core science around TSEs. In areas where it has been decided to cease or reduce work then there will inevitably be some effects but research on these subjects continues to be done by other groups in UK or elsewhere.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

219738; 431 c1437W;431 c1431W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Animals Diseases Disease control Research Reorganisation Institute for Animal Health

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk