HC Deb 17 May 1993 vol 225 cc39-40W
Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have so far been received by the Health and Safety Executive for permission genetically to modify organisms; and how many centres are currently known to be conducting such work.

Mr. McLoughlin

Three notifications for consent to undertake work involving genetic modification have been received by the Health and Safety Executive and 473 centres are currently known to be conducting such work.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement providing details of those projects for which permission has so far been granted genetically to modify organisms indicating, in each case, whether that work has commenced; and at which centre.

Mr. McLoughlin

No consents have so far been issued.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations are made by the Health and Safety Executive before granting permission for projects involving the genetic modification of organisms.

Mr. McLoughlin

Before issuing a consent, consultation is undertaken with the Health and Safety Commission advisory committee on genetic modification, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of the Environment and, in relation to their territories, the Welsh Office and the Scottish Office. Members of the public have access to information about notifications received and the opportunity to make representations while the application is being considered.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make it her policy routinely to report to Parliament details of those projects for which perMission is given genetically to modify organisms.

Mr. McLoughlin

No. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) expect to receive some hundreds of applications for consent under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992 and the detailed information provided with them is copious and technically very complex. However, information about such consents is available from HSE—although the regulations allow some sensitive items to be withheld to protect intellectual property rights. The main elements of that information are held on a public register.