TRADES unionists have condemned the government鈥檚 plan to sell the Natural Resources Institute, a body that provides scientific and technical advice for Britain鈥檚 agricultural aid programmes. The Overseas Development Administration, which owns the NRI, last week invited 鈥渆xpressions of interest鈥� from prospective buyers.
Confirmed bidders include the University of Reading, Imperial College, London, and a consortium led by the University of Greenwich.
Staff at the NRI belonging to the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists are dismayed. 鈥淚t can only mean more job losses and the loss of crucial research,鈥� says Steve Jary, the national officer of the IPMS.
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The union fears that new owners would close down 鈥渦nprofitable鈥� areas of research, lay off many of the 500 staff and split up the remaining assets. This could deprive developing nations such as Ethiopia and Somalia of a vital source of technical advice and assistance, says the union.