Animal Genome Mapping

HC Deb 17 March 1997 vol 292 cc380-1W

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which is the lead Department for(a) animal genome mapping in the United Kingdom and (b) following up the recommendations of the committee of inquiry on ethics of emerging technologies in breeding of farm animals under the chairmanship of the Rev. Professor Michael Banner. [20421]

Mr. Boswell

(a) Whilst there is no one lead Department, research on animal genome mapping is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Biotechnological and Biological Sciences Research Council. The BBSRC is administered by the Office of Science and Technology, which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry. There is close liaison between MAFF and BBSRC.

(b) The lead Department taking forward the recommendations of the committee to consider the ethical implications of emerging technologies in the breeding of farm animals is MAFF.