Written question asked by Earl of Selborne (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Bach (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 March 2006.

Agriculture: Research

Question: What areas of specific expertise have been, and are likely to be, lost at Rothamsted Research (and its predecessor body) and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research since 2003–04 as a consequence of funding decisions taken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies; and what measures the department has taken to ensure continuity of access to the high-quality scientific expertise required to deliver the strategy set out in Delivering the Essential of Life.

Answer: Rothamsted Research (RRes), its predecessor body (the Institute of Arable Crops Research) and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) are research institutes of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The areas of expertise within these institutes is, therefore, a matter for BBSRC, RRes and IGER.Defra’s needs for scientific evidence and, therefore, the expertise required within the scientific community to service these needs, are changing. This has been documented in our Science Forward Look¹ and our recent consultation document on our Evidence and Innovation Strategy². We look to the UK science and engineering base as a whole, including public sector research institutes, the higher education institutions and the private sector, to provide the expertise required to support the delivery of our strategic priorities."¹ Evidence and innovation: Defra’s needs from the sciences over the next 10 years, July 2004: www.defra.gov.uk/science/publications/documents/ScienceForwardLook3rd.pdf.""² Evidence and Innovation Strategy 2005–2008—consultation document issued October 2005: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ei-strategy/eis-consultdoc.pdf."

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 4336; 679 c129-30WA
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Finance Research Science Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research Rothamsted Research
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk