asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement outlining how genetic research spending within his Department's research and development budget is determined.

Expenditure on animal and plant genetic research has been determined after taking account of the views of the industry, the Agricultural and Food Research Council and advice from within my own Department. In future the advice of the Priorities Board will also be available to Ministers and the Agricultural and Food Research Council in determining the allocation of research and development budgets.