Agency researches part-privatisation

Environment and Science Minister Lord de Mauley has announced a new business model could be introduced for the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), which has a base at Sand Hutton in North Yorkshire. Three-quarters of Fera’s revenue comes from the Government, but Lord De Mauley admitted certain areas of the agency will have to be privatised to counter dwindling funding from Westminster.

Key teams such as the Bee Health Inspectors and the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate will remain in the government sector to ensure that diseases are monitored and reported.

But the Government is exploring whether to bring in partners from the private sector to commit a financial stake in Fera’s future.

A spokeswoman stressed the plans are at a “very early stage” and there are no plans to close the Sand Hutton research centre.