HC Deb 17 May 2000 vol 350 cc142-3W
Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations he had with(a) organic growers and (b) the Soil Association in Herefordshire about the siting of the GM trials at Kempley, Gloucestershire and Preston Wynne, Herefordshire; and if he will make a statement. [122038]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 15 May 2000]: There has not been any specific consultation with organic growers or the Soil Association about the siting of farm scale evaluations of GM crops at Kempley or Preston Wynne.

However, my Department and the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have been in dialogue with UKROFS (United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards) and the Soil Association about the Farm Scale Evaluations. MAFF has also been encouraging discussions between organic farmers and the GM industry body, SCIMAC, and have established a forum aimed at finding ways that the two systems can operate successfully alongside one another.