§ Mr. WoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to strengthen his Department's ability to review the environmental implications of releases of non-indigenous and of genetically manipulated organisms.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyMy right hon. Friend has decided to establish a committee of independent experts which will advise him on the ecological implications of releases of non-indigenous organisms and strengthen the Department's contribution to existing arrangements for evaluating the release of genetically manipulated organisms.
Sir Kenneth Blaxter has agreed to be chairman of the new committee and its full membership will be announced shortly.
The terms of reference of the committee are:
a) on an interim basis, pending advice from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and the Government's response to this, to advise the Department, on request, on matters relating to the ecological implications of releasing novel organisms and viruses (other than those already covered by existing product based controls);b) to provide ecological advice to other Departments and Government agencies and advisory bodies at their request either through the Department or direct as appropriate and, in particular, to provide such advice to the Health and Safety Executive and the Advisory Committee on Genetic Manipulation on proposals for the planned release of genetically manipulated organisms into the environment