§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract between his Department and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology agreed in April 1999 concerning research that forms part of the farm-scale evaluation of GM crops in the UK. [157113]
§ Mr. MeacherI have today placed in the Library a copy of each of the four farm-scale evaluation contracts. Certain personal and financial details relating to contractors' staff have been removed.
The farm-scale evaluations are being undertaken by a consortium of three contractors: the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) and the Institute of Arable Crops Research (IACR). CEH leads the consortium and is the main contractor for the maize and beet evaluations, 322W sub-contracting some of the work to SCRI and IACR. Similarly, SCRI leads on the spring oilseed rape trials and IACR on the winter oilseed rape, with some work sub-contracted to the other members of the consortium.
The work is overseen by the Scientific Steering Committee. Following the pilot year, protocols for the work have been revised on the advice of the Committee. Details of the current protocols can be found in the six monthly reports produced by the research consortium and published on the Department's website.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if a farmer chosen to take part in the farm scale evaluations of GM crops in the UK enters into a contract to grow and manage the field of GM and non-GM crop with(a) the Farming and Biotechnology Industry Body (SCIMAC) and (b) the chemical company that developed the GM crop involved. [157158]
§ Mr. MeacherFarmers hosting Farm Scale Evaluations on their farm do so by arrangement with the company that holds the consent authorising the release of the GM crop. The companies involved are members of the industry umbrella group SCIMAC. The crops are grown in accordance with the conditions set out in the release consent for that crop.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the voluntary agreement between his Department and the Farming and Biotechnology Industry Body concerning the farm scale evaluations of GM crops in the UK. [157112]
§ Mr. MeacherI will ensure that a copy of the voluntary agreement with the Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops (SCIMAC) on the conduct of the Farm Scale Evaluations will be placed in the Library. A copy can be found on my Department's website http://www.environment.detr.gov.uk/fse/scimac/agreement/index.htm.