§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the commercial plantation of herbicide tolerant genetically modified crops. [74691]
§ Mr. RookerNo commercial plantings of genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops will take place in 1999. The Government are determined to ensure that these crops do not harm the environment. We have therefore reached agreement with the industry on a programme of managed development starting this spring, whereby the first field-scale plantings of the crops will be strictly limited and monitored for ecological effects alongside conventional varieties.