§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the GM trial sites at Kempley, Gloucestershire and Preston Wynne, Herefordshire on organic farms in Herefordshire within a six mile radius; and if he will make a statement. [122040]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 15 May 2000]Of the particular sites mentioned in the question, fodder beet is being grown near to Preston Wynne. The beet will be carefully managed to prevent it flowering, so no pollen will be produced. The oilseed rape, being grown near Kemply, can only cross-pollinate with sexually compatible crops of the same species flowering at the same time. The separation distances reduce the chances of cross-pollination to less than 1 per cent. Also, organic farms do not tend to grow organic oilseed rape.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research has been conducted by his Department into ways to recover pollen dispersed from field trials of GM plants; and what data his Department has obtained in respect of such research conducted abroad. [124793]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Department has not conducted any such research and has no data on any such research conducted elsewhere. We would not expect it to be possible to recover pollen dispersal from field trials of GM plants.