To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the Agricultural Development Advisory Service laboratories which have been closed since 1979 giving their location, date of closure and type of laboratory, distinguishing between research and development, veterinary, farm and countryside service or general.
Work has been concentrated on fewer sites in the farm and countryside service, research and development service and veterinary service in order to improve efficiency and hence service to customers. The laboratories that have closed or merged as a result of this since 1979 are as follows:
| Date | |
| Farm and countryside service | |
| Accrington | 1 September 1989 |
| Bangor | 31 March 1986 |
| Caernarfon | 1 April 1990 |
| Carmarthen | 31 March 1990 |
| Cheshunt | 31 March 1987 |
| Crewe | 1983 |
| Evesham | 30 November 1989 |
| Kendal | 31 March 1987 |
| Liverpool | 1987 |
| Ormskirk | 1990 |
| Rhydmyn | 31 March 1990 |
| Shardlow | 31 March 1986 |
| Shrewsbury | 1979 |
| Wrexham | 1982 |
| Research and development | |
| Liverpool | 1 August 1982 |
| Tolworth | 29 February 1992 |
| Norwich | 29 February 1992 |
| Veterinary investigation centres | |
| Weybridge | December 1980 |
| Cardiff | March 1986 |
| Gloucester | June 1986 |
| Leeds | June 1986 |
| Northampton | July 1986 |
| Chester | April 1986 |
| Wye | July 1991 |
Date
| |
| Bangor | September 1991 |
| Lincoln | September 1991 |
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of (a) scientists and (b) advisory staff employed by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service for each year since 1979.
The number of staff employed by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service as advisory officers since 1979 is:
| Number | |
| 1979 | 1,252 |
| 1980 | 1,243 |
| 1981 | 1,240 |
| 1982 | 1,156 |
| 1983 | 1,183 |
| 1984 | 1,193 |
| 1985 | 1,202 |
| 1986 | 1,159 |
| 1987 | 1,069 |
| 1988 | 1,061 |
| 1989 | 1,003 |
| 1990 | 925 |
| 1991 | 876 |