§ Mr. SalterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will produce a response to the National Biotechnology Conference held in March 1997. [64965]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government response to the National Biotechnology Conference is available today. The Government have undertaken to examine ways of making more information available to the public about how decisions on biotechnology applications are reached; to ensure that membership of the Advisory Committees reflects a wide range of opinion; to address the wider implications for the natural environment of the introduction of genetically modified crops and to establish procedures for monitoring products when they enter the market. Copies of the response have been placed in the Library.