§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the requirements are for informing the public of the existence of GM farm-scale trials in their area; and if he will make a statement. [101718]
§ Mr. MeacherIn the case of consents for crops in the farm-scale evaluation programme issued in conformity with Directive 90/220/EEC Part B (ie research and development consents), there is a requirement under the GMO legislation to make available the locations of the sites. These are held on a public register, and advertisements are placed in the local press. For crops which have approval for Part C consent (ie placing on the market), under the GMO legislation there is no requirement for companies to make the locations of these sites publicly available. At the present time, this applies to herbicide tolerant maize within the farm-scale evaluations. However, the locations of all fields within the farm-scale evaluations are notified to my Department, and the Department makes the information available to the public, including via the DETR website.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many representations he has received against GM farm-scale trials in each month from 1992; and if he will make a statement. [101715]
§ Mr. MeacherI announced the setting up of the farm-scale evaluation programme in October 1998. Since then, approximately 4,400 letters from members of the public have been received across the whole range of biotechnology issues. My Department does not classify these according to individual subject, but I estimate that approximately one third of these are concerned with the farm scale evaluations programme. I have received approximately 260 representations concerned with the farm-scale evaluations from Members of Parliament. In addition, approximately 36,550 representations have been received to date through campaigns and signatures on petitions. My Department is still receiving individual representations.