§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the statement by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution on 16 February that new machinery is needed so that genetically modified organism (GMO) decisions will take account of wider considerations and that every official decision about GMOs must be accompanied by an explanation of the reasons for it. [HL2903]
§ Lord WhittyThe Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's statement of 16 February was that body's response to the Government's review of the framework for overseeing developments in biotechnology. On 21 May 1999 the Government published theAdvisory and Regulatory Framework for Biotechnology: Report from the Government's Review and announced that two new strategic commissions would be established to take a broader, long-term view of developments in biotechnology. The Human Genetics Commission will advise on applications of biotechnology in healthcare, and the impact of human genetics on people's lives; and the Agricultural and Environment Biotechnology Commission will cover the use of biotechnology in agriculture and its environmental effects.
The Government's report stated that all committees involved in biotechnology should adopt principles on transparency, timeliness and exchange of information. The Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, Second Edition 1997, requires that the facts and analysis behind major policy decisions be made available proactively. Such information is normally made available when policies and decisions are announced.