§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 20 April 1999,Official Report, column 473, on genetically modified crops, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay between the holding reply and the final reply. [83820]
§ Mr. MeacherThe sudden upsurge in media and public interest in genetic modification technology earlier this year resulted in a very substantial increase in the volume of Ministerial correspondence, Parliamentary Questions and correspondence from members of the public needing to be handled by officials. My officials have also been required to handle significantly increased levels of briefing resulting from several Select Committee appearances and the general increase in Ministerial activity in this area. This increased level of activity coupled with the need to provide full and considered replies to the large number of sometimes detailed and complex Parliamentary Questions tabled has inevitably resulted in some increase in response time, which I regret.