HL Deb 11 June 1999 vol 601 cc178-9WA
Lord Beaumont of Whitley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will specify for each of the plantings of genetically modified crops participating in the recently announced farm-scale evaluations the respective (a) crop; (b) planting company; (c) location of planting; (d) release consent date, nature arid reference number; (e) national list application date and reference number; (f) date of plant breeders' rights application and consent; and (g) date and nature of any pesticide approval. [HL2194]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)

Three herbicide tolerant crops are being planted in the farm-scale evaluations: spring oil seed rape, winter oil seed rape and maize. All three have been developed by AgrEvo, a company of Hoechst & Schering.

The spring oil seed rape is being grown under a Part B consent (981R19/18, issued 22/3/99) and three sites have been sown: Lushill Farm, Hannington, Wiltshire (SU 15 91); Model Farm, Shirburn, Oxon (SU 67 98); and Advanta Seeds UK Ltd, Boothby, Lincs (SK 96 58).

The maize is being grown under a Part C consent (C/F/95/12/07, issued in August 98 by the French Competent Authority). The locations do not therefore need to be made publicly available, but AgrEvo has agreed to do so this year. The locations are Walnut Tree Farm, Lyng, Norfolk; Home Farm, Spitle in the Street, Glentham, Lincolnshire; Little Park Farm, Mortimer, Reading, Berkshire; and Rothamstead Farm, Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

Approval has not yet been granted for the winter oil seed rape that will be used in the farm-scale evaluations and the locations have not yet been decided.

The National List application date and reference number in respect of the spring oilseed rape are 12 January 1998 and AFP 35/1210. The national list application date and reference number in respect of the maize are 16 January 1998 and AFP 51/833.

An application under the Plant Varieties Act 1997 was submitted for UK plant breeders rights for the spring oilseed rape, reference number AFP 35/1210 on 12 January 1998. This is still under consideration. No application has been submitted under the Plant Varieties Act 1997 for UK plant breeders rights for the maize variety reference number AFP 51/833.

The necessary pesticide approvals are being considered by Ministers and any approvals granted will be restricted to those essential for the carrying out of the trials.