§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of farm-scale trials of GM herbicide tolerant crops is; and what the contribution to the cost from public funds is. [34478]
§ Mr. MeacherThe costs of the Farm Scale Evaluations (FSEs) of Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerant crops are shared between Government and the industry body SCIMAC.
SCIMAC are responsible for providing, managing and disposing of the crops grown on the test sites. I do not have information on these costs.
Government collectively meets the costs of the ecological studies carried out by the Research Consortium, which are expected to total about £5.38 million over the five years of the programme.