§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many forms of genetically modified viruses have been permitted by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. [32501]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has no authority to permit releases; consents for releases are given by the Secretary of State for the Environment, acting jointly with, as appropriate, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland, or the Secretary of State for Wales.
The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has to date given advice to the Secretary of State for consents to release two forms of virus, one, a baculovirus, the other a bacteriophage.
§ Mr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the applications for the release of genetically modified organisms which have 331W been refused by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. [32498]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe committee has no powers to approve applications. Since the committee was placed on a statutory basis in 1993, it has not advised that any applications be refused. It has delayed its advice on specific applications pending the provision of additional information, and it has advised on precautions to be taken in making specific releases.