§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many man hours are spent by officials at the Health and Safety Executive on monitoring and enforcing the regulations and guidelines covering genetically modified organisms; what estimate he has made of the expected growth in this amount of working time should the United Kingdom allow the expansion to commercial growing; and what is his estimate of the costs involved. [67753]
§ Mr. MealeThe regulations and guidelines in Great Britain covering genetically modified organisms can be divided into those covering deliberate releases (typically the controlled growing of crops on designated sites) and those covering contained use (typically developmental work involving organisms, animals and plants in laboratories or glass houses).
The Health and Safety Executive inspects and enforces the regulations covering the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms under an agency agreement with the Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR). In the current working year, 888 hours (120 days or 0.57 person/years) are allocated for inspection and enforcement.
For contained use, in the current year, 1,665 hours (225 days or 1.07 person/years) are allocated for inspection and enforcement. Contained use work will not be affected by any expansion in commercial growing.
If the UK proceeds to commercial cultivation of genetically modified crops, the resources will be increased proportionally to take into account any additional inspection and enforcement duties.
§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list his Department's responsibilities and policies in relation to genetically-modified crops and the departments with which he liaises on this issue. [67664]
§ Mr. MealeDETR has responsibility in England for all issues concerned with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) which may affect the environment and is responsible for reviewing all environmental risk assessments in respect of GM crops.
DETR has lead responsibility for the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992, as amended, which in conjunction with Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the European Communities Act 1972, give effect to Council Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically Modified Organisms, as amended by Commission Directive 97/35/EC.
DETR is lead competent authority for the purposes of EC Directive 90/220/EEC and in the wider international field has lead responsibility for taking forward the UK line in the negotiation of a Biosafety Protocol under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) specialist inspectors enforce those sections of Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and associated Regulations, which concern deliberate release of GMOs 334W into the environment. The enforcement is undertaken on behalf of the Secretary of State and is under the terms of an Agency Agreement.
The human safety aspects of the contained use of genetically modified crops are covered by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992, as amended. HSE is responsible for and enforces those Regulations. Environmental aspects are covered by Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and associated Regulations—the Genetically Modified Organisms (Risk Assessment) (Records and Exemptions) Regulations 1996, as amended in 1997—for which DETR is responsible. HSE specialist inspectors enforce that legislation on behalf of DETR under an Agency Agreement.
Arrangements between Departments on the control and regulation of the contained use and deliberate release of GMOs is covered by a Memorandum of Understanding between DETR, HSE, MAFF, Scottish Office and Welsh Office and by an agreement between DETR and DOE(NI). Policy on biotechnology, including genetically modified crops, is co-ordinated by the Ministerial Group on Biotechnology, as announced by the Prime Minister on 21 October 1998, Official Report, columns 1134–35, which is chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office. In addition, officials across Government are in regular contact on biotechnology issues.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the terms of reference of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment were last reviewed. [68061]
§ Mr. MealeThe terms of reference of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) have not changed since the committee was established in 1993. The remit of the committee was last reviewed and changed in October 1998 when the Secretary of State asked ACRE in future to advise not only on the direct and indirect effects of genetically modified organisms in the environment but on the possible changes in agronomic practice and subsequent effects on biodiversity.