§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 1999,Official Report, column 153, if the stakeholders' forum he intended to instigate has been superseded by the two commissions announced by the Minister for the Cabinet Office in his oral statement of 21 May 1999, Official Report, columns 1371–84, on biotechnology. [90066]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 6 July 1999]: The two Commissions announced by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 21 May do supersede earlier proposals for a stakeholders forum. The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) 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 (AEBC) will cover the use of 533W biotechnology in agriculture and its environmental effects. The two bodies will include a wide range of interests including lay members, specialists in ethical matters, consumers and those with a knowledge of the industry. One of the functions of the Commissions will be to consult key stakeholders and the public in formulating their advice to Government.