§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the consultation exercises that have been undertaken over the last five years on farm animal biotechnology and cloning; what decisions have been made following these exercises; and which issues are still under consideration. [2562]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government received advice on the implications of cloning for farm animals in a report by the Farm Animal Welfare Council (published December 1998). Since then, the Government have established the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC). Its remit includes providing strategic advice on the ethical and social aspects of developments in biotechnology, and on their public acceptability. An AEBC sub-group is currently exploring the subject of animals and biotechnology with the aim of providing a report to Government early next year. This may include consideration of the issue of the welfare of cloned animals. More generally, the Office of Science and Technology commissioned a consultation exercise on public attitudes to biotechnology in 1998–99, which included questions on the public perception of animal cloning.