Earl Baldwin of Bewdleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answers by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 19 May (H.L. Deb., cols. 294–296), that members of expert scientific committees are chosen on merit only, why the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment is currently being reconstituted to reflect differences of scientific opinion; and whether this principle has wider application to other committees. [HL2624]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)The reconstitution of the Advisory Committee on Releases into the Environment (ACRE) is fully in line with the Government's policy on appointing members to scientific committees. My right honourable friend the Minister for the Environment announced in November 1998 that he was extending the remit of ACRE to allow it to advise on broader implications of genetically modified organisms on agronomic practice and biodiversity. Therefore, when the membership periods of 10 ACRE members expire in June 1999, the opportunity is being taken to ensure that the expertise of the new members reflects the wider remit. For more information, I refer my noble friend to the Minister for the Environment's statements to the House of Commons of 5 November 1998 (Official Report, col. 638) and 11 May 1999 (Official Report, col. 107).