HC Deb 08 September 2003 vol 410 cc310-1W
Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of global(a) population figures and (b) food production trends in policy development by her Department. [128047]

Mr. Bradshaw

Assessments of the impacts of EU policies under the CAP can be influenced by world market trends for agricultural commodities and my Department considers projections of these made by international organisations such as OECD. In projecting these trends, analysts will take account of likely levels of world food production, consumption and trade flows. Population changes may influence these trends.

Mr. Hayes

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the role of the Precautionary Principle in determining Government policy in areas of scientific contention within her Department's responsibilities. [128181]

Mr. Bradshaw

The purpose of the Precautionary Principle is to create an impetus to take a decision notwithstanding scientific uncertainty about the nature and extent of the risk. Defra is committed to using the Precautionary Principle in line with the comprehensive guidelines and advice set down in 2002 by the Interdepartmental Liaison Group on Risk Assessment and is also mindful of the European Council Resolution on the Precautionary Principle agreed by Heads of Government at Nice in December 2000.

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