Government should consider privatising research labs, argues Lib Dem think tank

The government should consider privatising more of its public-sector research establishments, a report by Liberal-Democrat leaning think tank CentreForum has argued. The report found that those public-sector research establishments that have become private enterprises generally achieve better value for money than those owned and operated by the government. In particular, it says, it is “difficult to see” why the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Acquaculture and the Food and Environment Research Agency need to remain fully owned and operated by government.