§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many laboratories conducting genetic engineering experiments lack the appointment of the supervisory medical officer recommended in the report of the Working Party on the Practice of Genetic Manipulation.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsNone.
§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many institutions conducting genetic manipulation experiments lack the establishment of the representative safety committees recommended in the report of the Working Party on the Practice of Genetic Manipulation.
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§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsNegotiations are continuing with the only institution that does not at present have a separate representative safety committee for each of its establishments.
§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is aware that the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group has expressed concern that a small minority of molecular biologists has made clear their disregard for recommended safeguards and training in conducting experiments in genetic engineering; and what action she intends taking to protect the public from the activities of such molecular biologists.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsRegulations under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 require from 1st August 1978 the notification of such experiments to the Health and Safety Executive and to the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group. In giving advice the group takes account of the experience and training of the staff proposing to carry out the experiments. It will be the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive to ensure that the advice of the group has been sought and followed.
§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science with which British companies the Genetic Advisory Group has held discussions relating to the reluctance of industry to submit voluntarily notifications of intended experiments in genetic manipulation.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsDiscussions have been held with Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Glaxo Research Ltd., ICI Ltd., Pfizer Ltd., G. D. Searle & Co. Ltd., and Wellcome Research Laboratories and with the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries.
§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many members sit upon the confidentiality subcommittee of the Genetic Advisory Group considering protection of the secrets of commercial companies engaged in genetic engineering; how many members of that sub-committee are employees of pharmaceutical and chemical firms; and whether she is satisfied that the public interest is served by the creation of faci- 662W lities to prevent knowledge of genetic manipulation experiments to be publicly known.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsAll proposals submitted under the special confidentiality scheme of the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group are considered by the whole group, less those members who have not signed a declaration of confidentiality and any for whom a conflict of interest may arise. Its sub-committee on Confidentiality of Proposals, which considers only the procedure for examining such proposals, has a chairman and 13 members, 10 of whom are employees of pharmaceutical and chemical firms. Work on genetic manipulation has the potential to provide knowledge of great value to this country and its industry and I am satisfied that, at the discretion of the chairman of the group, special treatment is justified to avoid the risk of disclosure of information of particular commercial or academic significance.
§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the members of the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group are employed by the privately owned sectors of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry; and how many have commercial interests by acting as consultants to private firms.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsTwo and two respectively.
§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will direct the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group to give consideration to the need for a licensing system to govern all laboratories conducting experiments in genetic engineering.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsIt would be premature to do so until experience has been gained of the working of the Health and Safety (Genetic Manipulation) Regulations 1978. The group will make recommendations for the establishment of a licensing system if and when it considers it appropriate.
§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, pursuant to the system of voluntary notification of genetic engineering experiments, 663W she is satisfied that all genetic manipulation experiments conducted at the bacterial warfare centre at Porton Down are notified to the Genetic Advisory Group.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsYes. All such work at the Microbiological Research Establishment is notified to the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group.
§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many times the sub-committee of the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group dealing with genetic manipulation of plants has met representatives of the Agriculture Departments in England, Wales and Scotland; and what steps are being taken to expedite the recommendation of the subcommittee to ensure protection against the hazards of gentic manipulation in plants and animals.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe Sub-Committee on Genetic Manipulation in Plants has met once and sub-groups of it have met twice. Represenatives of the agriculture Departments have attended all three meetings. The agriculture Departments are now reviewing the position and, in particular, considering what containment facilities would be appropriate for plants and what precautions are necessary to protect animals.
§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the possibility of genetic manipulation experiments being undertaken in well-equipped laboratories of schools and further education institutions, if she will (a) inquire whether such experiments have been conducted and (b) issue a circular with a warning aimed at preventing such experiments from taking place.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsI know of no such experiments in schools. My Department, together with that of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, will be issueing guidance on the subject to local education authorities, schools and establishments of further education, and drawing their attention to the regulations recently made.
§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied that all experiments in genetic manipulation now taking place in laboratories owned by private industry are being 664W notified to the Genetic Advisory Group; and if she will seek to ensure that the advice of the group has been sought and followed in all cases where genetic manipulation experiments are taking place.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsI have no reason to suppose that any laboratory proposing to carry out an experiment in genetic manipulation is failing to notify the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group. The Health and Safety Executvie, which is responsible for ensuring that employers carry out their responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, are aware of the advice given by the group. From 1st August 1978, regulations made under the Act require the notification of such experiments to the Health and Safety Executive and to the advisory group. It will be the responsibility of the executive to ensure that the advice of the group has been sought and followed.