HC Deb 22 July 1999 vol 335 cc592-3W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy on experiments in the genetic modification of plants so that honey from their nectar produces medicinally valuable products. [90721]

Mr. Meale

[holding answer 13 July 1999]: I have received no applications for consent to release this type of genetically modified (GM) plant. Any such applications would be subject to a scientific assessment of risk carried out case-by-case on the basis of an environmental risk assessment. It is likely that any such experiments would be carried out in containment.

Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the maximum number of fields and the maximum field size that will be permitted in the farm scale trials of genetically modified oil seed rape, maize and sugar beet; and which body will determine these numbers and sizes. [91415]

Mr. Meale

The farm scale evaluations of the impact of the management of genetically modified (GM) herbicide tolerant oilseed rape and maize on farmland are being guided by an independent scientific steering committee. The steering committee will determine the number of fields necessary to ensure the statistical validity of the study. Preliminary analysis has indicated that 20 paired comparisons of each crop in each year will be sufficient, although more detailed analysis of the appropriate sample size was called for by the steering committee and it may be necessary to revise the number in the light of this.

In the current research programme, the intention is to carry out ecological studies in a realistic cropping scenario, that is within fields of a size representative of UK agricultural practices. A size of about 10 ha was chosen; in the case of maize, many fields are likely to be smaller—about 6–7 ha and, in the case of oilseed rape, fields may be larger than 10 ha. Sugar beet is not being grown as part of the programme this year.

Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the farm scale test sites planned for autumn 1999 and the crops to be grown; if interim test results from earlier trials will be available before their planting; and if he will make a statement. [92095]

Mr. Meale

The release of genetically modified autumn sown oilseed rape will be carried out under a consent granted to AgrEvo. The legislation requires that the proposed sites are advertised in a local newspaper and that my Department discloses the locations on the public register. The sites for this autumn's releases have not yet been selected.

It is unlikely that interim results will be available before the autumn sown crops are planted. The ecological studies being carried out in the spring sown crops are still being gathered and will continue to be gathered after harvest. Analysis of the results will then be carried out and reviewed by the Scientific Steering Group at their next meeting in October. It is not considered necessary to have the results of the wildlife studies in the spring sown crops before sowing the autumn sown crops. The different sowing times influence the wildlife in a crop quite significantly and great care needs to be taken in the interpretation of the results in this respect.