HC Deb 25 March 2003 vol 402 cc196-7W
Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors underlay the decision by the Food Standards Agency to run a parallel exercise to the GM public debate run under the auspices of DEFRA. [103955]

Ms Blears

[holding answer 20 March 2003]: The Food Standards Agency is taking forward its genetically modified debate activities as part of its responsibility under the Food Standards Act 1999. The activities are in line with the FSA's remit by focussing on the consumer acceptability of GM foods. The Chairman of the GM public debate steering board has been kept informed of all the FSA activities since summer 2002.

Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role the chairman of the Food Standards Agency had in approving the promotional booklet for the Food Standards Agency GM debate. [103956]

Ms Blears

[holding answer 20 March 2003]: The Food Standards Agency Chairman commented on the booklet, which was written by FSA officials and approved by the FSA's Chief Scientific Adviser. The booklet was produced to provide public information after FSA consumer research revealed very little public understanding of genetically modified food.