§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking in relation to genetic use restriction technologies following the recommendation of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the approval of such technologies by parties for field testing prior to appropriate assessments being made in regard to socio-economic impacts, biological diversity and food security. [138795]
§ Mr. MeacherIn line with the decision of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, the Government support strict, case by case, precautionary action to control the field testing and commercial development of gene use restriction technologies. As called for in the decision, we will make available information on UK experience and expertise on such technologies through the clearing-house mechanism under the Convention.