HC Deb 22 April 1983 vol 41 cc185-6W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek powers to require companies involved commercially in the field of genetic manipulation to notify the Health and Safety Executive and Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group.

Mr. William Shelton

Companies involved commercially in genetic manipulation, as that term is defined in the Health and Safety (Genetic Manipulation) Regulations 1978, are already required to notify the Health and Safety Executive and the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group. I am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the present arrangements for voluntary notification of the large-scale use of genetically manipulated organisms are working satisfactorily.

1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83*
Pre-clinical medicine 3,819 3,841 3,857 3,919 4,018
Pre-clinical dentistry 951 960 974 967 968
TOTAL 4,770 4,801 4,831 4,886 4,986
* Provisional.