§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many premises were licensed for the use and processing of genetically modified material in 1990, 1991 and 1992; how many on-site inspections were carried out in each of those years; how many premises were discovered using such material without a licence in each of those years; and what action was taken.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThere are no legal requirements for a licence to use premises for genetic modification work but under the Genetic Manipulation Regulations 1989, persons are required to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of an intention to do so.
The information required is as follows:
Year Active centres HSE inspections Centres failing to notify Notices issued 1990 351 100 2 15 1991 400 70 1 22 1992 445 121 2 21 1 Improvement. 2 Prohibition. All the notices were served on the centres which had failed to notify. In 1992, work was stopped at both sites which had not notified. A prohibition notice was issued at one; the second complied with the requirements before enforcement action was completed.