§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the occasions since 29 July 1998 when(a) he, (b) his colleagues and (c) his officials have met representatives of biotechnology or seed companies, stating in each case (i) what matters were discussed, (ii) what the outcome of the meeting was and (iii) the names of those at the meeting. [70555]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 11 February 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Swindon (Ms Drown) on 19 November 1998, Official Report, column 285, in which dates of ministerial meetings with companies about genetically modified organisms are provided. No further meetings of this type have taken place since the answer was provided.
I can also confirm that the following meetings between officials and biotechnology/seed companies have taken place since 29 July 1998:
889WMeetings with biotechnology/seed companies and officials since 29 July 1998Meetings to discuss pesticide regulatory mattersMeetings with the Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops (SCIMAC)
Meetings with SCIMAC to discuss the industry's progress towards establishing guidelines for the growing of new types of herbicide tolerant crops took place on the following dates: 2 October 1998,9 October 1998,13 November 1998,9 December 1998,11 December 1998,29 January 1999 and 3 February 1999.
Company Date of meeting Company Date of meeting Monsanto, AgrEvo and Cyanamid 28 July 1998 Dow Agrosciences and Monsanto 14 December 1999 Monsanto 30 July 1998 Dow Agrosciences 5 January 1999 Zeneca and AgrEvo 3 August 1998 CPB Twyford and PGS 8 January 1999 Zeneca 5 August 1998 Zeneca 11 January 1999 Advanta 19 October 1998 Cyanamid, Monsanto and AgrEvo 27 January 1999 Advanta Seeds 2 December 1998 — — Meetings related to administration of plant breeders' rights and related matters
The administration of plant breeders' rights, national listing and seed certification call for frequent meetings and other contacts between officials and representatives of plant breeding and seed companies. Since 29 July 1998 officials of the Plant Variety Rights & Seeds Division have had meetings with members of Sharpes International Seeds Ltd., Midland Shires Farmers, J. E. & V. M. Doultons Ltd., M. Hancocks & Son Ltd., Monsanto, Pioneer Hibred, Novartis, English Sugar Beet Co., AgrEvo, Advanta Seeds, CPB Twyfords, and the British Agro Chemical Association. The Plant Health & Seeds Inspectorate also made numerous visits to seed companies and held discussions with them in pursuance of the Inspectorate's duties.Other meetings
A meeting took place with Monsanto on 20 January 1999 to discuss their GM cotton seed application under EC Regulation 90/220.890W
Date Destinations Methods of travel 12–13 May 1997 Brussels and The Hague Scheduled flight and train 20–21 May 1997 Brussels Scheduled flight 25–27 May 1997 Domburg Scheduled flight 15–16 June 1997 Stockholm Scheduled flight 23–25 June 1997 Luxembourg Chartered flight 15–16 July 1997 Strasbourg and Bonn Scheduled flight 22–23 July 1997 Brussels Scheduled flight 7 September 1997 Luxembourg Scheduled flight 22–23 September 1997 Brussels Scheduled flight 10–12 October 1997 Rome Scheduled flight 13–14 October 1997 Dusseldorf Scheduled flight 20–21 October 1997 Luxembourg Scheduled flight 6–12 November 1997 South Africa Scheduled flight 16–19 November 1997 Brussels Scheduled flight 15–16 December 1997 Brussels Scheduled flight 9–12 January 1998 St. Lucia Scheduled flight 19–20 January 1998 Brussels Scheduled flight 2–3 February 1998 Brussels Scheduled flight 16–17 February 1998 Brussels Scheduled flight 4–6 March 1998 Paris Scheduled flight 10–11 March 1998 Madrid Scheduled flight 12 March 1998 Brussels Scheduled flight 16–17 March 1998 Brussels Scheduled flight 23–24 March 1998 Brussels Eurostar and scheduled flight 30–31 March 1998 Brussels Eurostar and scheduled flight 20–21 April 1998 Luxembourg Chartered flight 22–28 April 1998 Beijing and Hong Kong Scheduled flight 25–26 May 1998 Brussels Scheduled flight 3 June 1998 Brussels Scheduled flight 7–9 June 1998 Luxembourg Chartered flight 15–16 June 1998 Strasbourg and Rotterdam Chartered flight 22–26 June 1998 Luxembourg Chartered flight 20 July 98 Brussels Scheduled flight Meetings to discuss research projects
Meetings to discuss various research projects, including those under the BRIGHT (Botanical and Rotational Implications of GM Herbicide Tolerance) project, SAPPIO (Sustainable Arable Production through Precision and Input optimisation) project and environmental management and wildlife conservation projects, took place with companies listed below on the dates given.