§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1999,Official Report, column 541W, on GM crops, what research on the impact of GM pollen on wild or feral bee populations his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) received. [102833]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Department has not specifically commissioned any research on the impact of GM pollen on wild or feral bee populations. However, one member of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) has specific expertise in bees and their behaviour. In addition all information on this topic, which is in the public domain, is available to Department scientists and members of ACRE when considering the impact of GM pollen on wild or feral bee populations in relation to a particular release application.