§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has undertaken into the possible environment implications of the draft European Parliament and Council directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions; and if he will make a statement. [7354]
§ Angela EagleThe Department has a research programme to consider the environmental implications arising from the release of biotechnological products, in particular to identify the potential hazards and assess the risks to the environment from the proposed release of 447W genetically modified organisms. The Department has no responsibility for the legal protection of biotechnological inventions.