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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigations, as part of the prior options review, are being undertaken of the ownership of (a) the Horticulture Research Centre, (b) the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, (c) the Scottish Crop Research Institute, (d) the Institute of Arable Crops Research, (e) the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, (f) the John Innes Centre and (g) the Silsoe Research Institute; and if he will name the owners of the land and buildings occupied by these institutes. [4740] Mr. Ian Taylor: [holding answer 18 November 1996]: The prior options review process, as set out in the guidelines placed in the Library on 26 January, Official Report, column 422, looks at wide range of options for institutes, including change of ownership. This might take the form of, for example, transferring ownership to a university of to her independent organisation, or privatisation as a company limited by guarantee. As for current ownership of the land and buildings of the institutes in question, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 18 July, Official Report, column 616, for details of the last four. Horticulture Research International operates from six sites, four of which are owned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, one by the East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research, and one by Wye college, University of London. The details of the two institutes in Scotland are: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Location (unit, farm etc.) Owner of land and buildings _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Cragiebuckler MLURI Hill of Mackalea, Glenlivet Crown Estate Commissioners Glensaugh Secretary of State for Scotland Sourhope First Roxburgh Bahamian Trust Auchope Mrs. J. Clarke Hartwood Secretary of State for Scotland Red Deer Farm, Glensaugh Secretary of State for Scotland and the Forestry Commission and Fasque Estates Kingseat of Outh Forestry Commission _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The Scottish Crop Research Institute _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Mylnefield/Bullionfield Secretary of State for Scotland Gourdie Secretary of State for Scotland Liff Hospital Gardens Secretary of State for Scotland Lonsdale SCRI East Pilmore Holding Secretary of State for Scotland Carslea, Station Crescent Four private individuals Blythbank Roslin Institute _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

4740; 285 c518W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Central government Buildings Facilities Public sector Technology Research Science Government research establishments Government laboratories Efficiency scrutinies