§ Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domerasked Her Majesty's Government:
If they decide at the end of February to place genetically modified seed on the National Seed List, what account they must take of representations following such a decision. [HL1247]
§ Baroness HaymanThe Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (as amended).—the National List regulations—require Ministers to publish proposed National List decisions. Proposals are published in thePlant Varieties and Seeds Gazette, usually at the end of each calendar month. The Gazette may be obtained from Tactica Solutions at London Digital Print Centre, 11 Steedman Street, London SE17 3AF. Telephone 0171 740 4019. The National List regulations prescribe the representations procedures that apply to such proposed decisions. Regulation 22 requires that Ministers give notice of proposed decisions in the Gazette and that a period of not less than 14 days be allowed for affected persons to submit written representations and/or apply for a hearing conducted by a person appointed by Ministers. In practice, to cater for postal delays, a period of 18 days is generally allowed for the submission of written representations and/or a request for a hearing. Ministers may not make a final decision about the addition of a variety to the National List until they have considered the evidence submitted to a hearing and any written representations.