§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the 1281W occasions since June 2001 when the Government has received representations from the US authorities in favour of (a) allowing GM crops to be planted in the UK and (b) encouraging the consumption of GM food. [99207]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government and representatives of the US authorities are in regular contact and exchange views on issues relating to GM crops and food. However, details of these exchanges are not recorded centrally. In general, representations made to my Department from the US authorities relate to acceptance of imports of agricultural commodities from GM crops grown in the USA, rather than direct pressure to allow GM crops to be planted in the UK or encouraging the consumption of GM food.