HL Deb 15 March 1999 vol 598 cc66-7WA
Viscount Thurso

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which Government agencies or other bodies are responsible for authorising and regulating:

  1. (a) research into genetic modification in general and genetically modified foods in particular; and
  2. (b) the commercial production, sale and consumption by the public of genetically modified foods;
and what resources, both financial and human, are provided to execute these functions. [HL1210]

Lord Donoughue

The Health and Safety Executive, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Scottish Office, the Northern Ireland Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are the government agencies and departments responsible for authorising research into genetic modification.

Although MAFF is responsible for regulating the commercial production, sale and consumption by the public of genetically modified foods, the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices also have resources engaged in this area.

£5 million is being spent in 1998–99 in support of these functions, which includes £3.7 million on research to underpin the regulatory framework. A total of 74 people are currently deployed on this work (mainly policy development, research co-ordination and regulatory functions).