Government Departments: Research and Data

House of Lords written question – answered at on 21 June 2011.

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Photo of Lord Kennedy of Southwark Lord Kennedy of Southwark Labour

To ask Her Majesty's Government what research and data collection the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has (a) initiated, (b) terminated, and (c) amended, since 12 May 2010.

Photo of Lord Henley Lord Henley The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The information relating to research commissioned externally by core Defra has been placed in the Library at the House of Lords.

The research data include projects managed by various agencies on behalf of core Defra. These include the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), and the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD-part of Health and Safety Executive).

Since May 2010, Defra has initiated (commissioned) £58 million of research projects. No research contracts were terminated in advance of the planned end date. Projects worth £101 million have ended naturally as a result of reaching their planned end date and providing the agreed outputs. Note these figures are not directly comparable as contract duration varies. As a number of projects have a short duration, they are included in both the initiated and ended research lists.

Since May 2010, 319 contracts have been amended. Contracts may be amended with agreement of both the project officer and the contractor, to meet changing customer needs, scientific opportunities, financial or other factors.

Further detailed information about any of the projects listed is available from the Defra's website (see http://randd.defra.dov.uk/).

Information relating to data collection cannot be provided due to disproportionate costs. Data collection covers a very broad area. Defra commissions data exercises through many different routes, and it would very difficult to gather the information without carrying out a thorough review.

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