§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment has been made of the ways in which it is possible to recover pollen dispersed from GM plants in field trials in the event of the experiment demonstrating environmental harm. [116267]
§ Mr. MeacherIt would not be possible to recover pollen released from field trials. This is one of the reasons why no genetically modified crops may be released for field trials in the United Kingdom without a detailed risk assessment of the possible harm to human health and the 315W environment. This includes specific consideration of the possible effects of the dispersal of GM pollen. The risk assessments are reviewed critically by the scientific and technical experts on the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). If ACRE had any concern that GM pollen would cause environmental harm, then the release would not be allowed.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to place conditions in the contracts for biodiversity research relating to farm-scale trials of GM crops to ensure there are no conflicts of interest among contractors which might undermine the credibility of research. [116208]
§ Mr. MeacherI have no plans to place conditions in the contracts. The research contractors involved in the evaluations are respected Government research institutions who have no corporate links to any vested interest. The research methodology and findings for the farm-scale evaluations are reviewed and agreed by an independent Scientific Steering Committee and the overall findings of the evaluations will be peer reviewed by other independent scientists, completely outside the research programme. This all guarantees that the findings of the farm-scale evaluations will be unbiased and science based.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the criteria used to assess the scientific independence of scientific contractors working on farm-scale evaluations of GM crops before contracts were awarded. [116207]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Department invited 15 organisations to tender for the farm-scale evaluations. These were chosen to be Government funded bodies (such as research council institutes or universities) or independent research bodies. In the event, the contractors chosen were all Government funded institutes and had demonstrated that they had the capacity to carry out the work, as well as the required scientific expertise. As with all Government contracts of this nature, the researchers were asked to provide details of all personnel expected to carry out the work, along with their CVs.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of potential conflicts of interest relating to the contract given to the Institute of Arable Crop Research for farm-scale evaluation of GM crops following the recruitment of staff involved by CropGen. [116209]
§ Mr. MeacherThree members of staff employed by the Institute of Arable Crop Research have been recruited to advise CropGen. Two were previously involved with the farm-scale evaluations in a specialist advisory role but neither will be involved in the next stage of the project.
£ per pupil Under 5s Education SSA Primary Education SSA Secondary Education SSA Post-16 Education SSA Education SSA1 Cheshire County Council 1,962 2,257 2,898 3,236 2,602 Shire County Council Average 2,109 2,348 3,024 3,426 2,715 Metropolitan District Average 2,414 2,456 3,168 3,813 2,863 London Borough Average 3,394 2,982 3,802 4,194 3,510 Met District and London Borough Average 2,777 2,645 3,386 3,978 3,094 1 This column is calculated by dividing the Education SSA (including the element for 'other' education, such as adult education) by the sum of Under 5, Primary, Secondary and Post-16 pupils