§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received on cross-pollination between genetically modified oil seed rape in field trials and the wild weed variety; and if he will make a statement on the latter' s resistance to weedkiller. [81781]
§ Mr. RookerThere is no evidence, from MAFF-funded research, of cross hybridisation between oilseed rape and weeds in field trials. However, the research is still at an early stage and it is not possible to exclude the possibility that hybrids may be found. There have been reports of herbicide-resistant wild turnip in oilseed rape fields in some part of the UK. It is likely that the wild turnip, a close relative of oilseed rape, is naturally resistant to the same herbicides as is unmodified oilseed rape.