HC Deb 18 June 1998 vol 314 cc280-1W
Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 1 June 1998,Official Report, column 6, under what statutory authority the holder of a consent to conduct experimental trials concerning genetically modified seeds under the deliberate release regulations may delegate third parties to conduct releases on their behalf. [46207]

Angela Eagle

Under the Genetically Modified (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 (as amended in 1995 and 1997), the consent holder is authorised by the Secretary of State to conduct trials in accordance with the conditions of the consent. Therefore, if the consent imposes conditions which permit or require that the trial be carried out by a third party, the consent holder is authorised by the Secretary of State to carry out the trial in this way. In all cases, the consent holder is legally responsible for ensuring that the trial is carried out in accordance with the conditions and limitations of their consent.

Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 1998,Official Report, column 418, if he will make a statement on the locations, references, holders and dates of, and the crops and the modified traits covered by, the release consents for (a) the site of 494 acres and (b) the commercial seed production site covering 17.5 acres. [46206]

Angela Eagle

(a) the consent holder for the release covering 494 acres is John K. Kings and Sons Ltd., reference number 98/R28/3. Consent for this release was granted on 17 March 1998, and is for oilseed rape modified for increased lauric acid production. The applicant has consent to release this material from 1 March 1998 to 1 November 2000. The total area covered by this release is not more than 200ha (494 acres), and is proposed to take place at 15 sites. This release is currently taking place at the following sites—

  • Whitehouse, Newcastle, Monmouthshire, (18.14ha)
  • Painslack Farm, Wetwang, East Yorkshire, (10.93ha)
  • Littledean Farm, Ayton, Eyemouth, Berwickshire, (13.92ha)
  • Awbridge Farm, Union Lane, Tryscull, Wolverhampton, (17.00ha)
  • Tythope Park, Kingsey, Thame, Buckinghamshire, (13.94ha)
  • Manor Farm, Crux Easton, Newbury, Hampshire, (12.12ha)
  • Bussey Stool Farm, Tarrant, Gunville, Blandford, Dorset, (12.14ha)
  • Hall Farm, Toftrees, Fakenham, Norfolk, (10.94ha)
  • Fenton Barns, North Berwick, East Lothian, (17.40ha)
  • Norcote Hall Farm, Northchurch, Berkampsted, Hertfordshire, (37.51 ha)
  • Hunsley Hall, High Hunsley, Cottingham, East Yorkshire. (6.07ha)
  • Dunkirk Park, Bridge of Earn, Perth, (10.88ha)
  • Total area 181ha

(b) the consent holder for the release covering 17.5 acres for commercial seed production is Plant Genetic Systems, reference number 94/M1/1. Marketing consent was granted for this crop on 28 February 1996 under EU Directive 90/220/EEC. As such the applicant is not required to inform the DETR where the GM material is planted. However, the conditions of the marketing consent were for commercial seed production only, and the GM material cannot therefore enter the food or feed chain. Consent for this has not yet been issued by the French Competent Authority. The crop is a hybrid oilseed rape consisting of three different modified lines: a male sterile line, a fertility restoration line, and a combination of both lines expressing restored fertility.