§ Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to the farm scale evaluations of GM crops(a) which herbicides were used in the maize trials and whether these will continue to be legally available to farmers, (b) who was responsible for the independent measurement of maize yields and herbicide inputs and (c) whether comparisons between GM and non-GM maize yields were of crops using identical herbicide use. [134923]
§ Mr. MorleyAll of the herbicides used in the GM crop farm-scale evaluations, both on the GM crops and the non-GM equivalents, are listed in full in the scientific papers published on 16 October 2003 (see Champion et al. 2003; "Crop management and agronomic context of the farm scale evaluations of genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops";Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society(B). 358 (1439): 1801–1818. A copy of this journal has been placed in the Library. Three herbicides used in the maize trials have been withdrawn as part of the EU review programme of pesticide active ingredients. The herbicides Atrazine and Simazine can be used for a further 18 months. Cyanazine can be used until the end of December 2003.
The independent research team carrying out the evaluations audited the herbicide use by the farmers and monitored growth stages of the crops to compare yields. They concluded that the trials were conducted fairly. This approach and conclusion was endorsed by the 419W independent Scientific Steering Committee and again independently assessed and by the journal referees; see Champion et al. 2003 for more details.
Comparisons were not made using identical herbicide regimes as the purpose of the trials was specifically to assess the impact on wildlife of the different herbicide regimes used on the GM and non-GM crops.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list(a) Government-commissioned research and inquiries, (b) peer-reviewed research undertaken by others, (c) non-peer-reviewed research undertaken by others and (d) other information or sources of data upon which her Department will draw in making its decisions on the licensing of GM crops; and if she will set out for each item of work commissioned by her Department the date on which it was (i) commissioned and (ii) placed or expected to be placed in the public domain. [135139]
§ Mr. MorleyAn application for consent to grow a GM crop must be supported by a dossier of information about the particular GM crop, its properties and behaviour. In considering whether to license a particular Genetically Modified Organism for release in the UK my Department seeks the advice of the Government's
Defra research project Due for publication Modelling effects of herbicide and insecticide management December 2003 Biodiversity effects of management associated with GM cropping systems December 2003 Monitoring movement of herbicide resistance genes from farm scale evaluation field sites to populations of wild crop relatives December 2003 Gene Flow Monitoring from the FSE sites: Monitoring Gene Flow from the GM Crop to Non-GM Equivalent Crops in the Vicinity. Part 2: Oilseed Rape. November 2003 The Potential Value of the FSE sites to assess the impact of GMHT crops on birds November 2003
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission report on co-existence and liability of GM and non-GM seeds and crops will be published. [135141]
§ Mr. MorleyWe expect this report to be published by the end of November.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with representatives of the organic farming and growing sectors on(a) co-existence with GM crops and (b) liability for cross-contamination of GM crops. [135142]
§ Mr. MorleyDefra Ministers and officials have had many discussions on GM crops with representatives of the organic sector. For example, the co-existence of GM and organic crops was considered at a meeting of the Organic Action Plan Group chaired by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary (Commons), on 17 September 2003, and I had a meeting on 29 October 2003 with several organic groups to hear their views on GM issues.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the weight she will give to the results of the GM Nation consultation exercise in making decisions on the future use of GM biotechnology. [135147]
420Wstatutory advisers on the release of GMOs—The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). In making advice ACRE will consider the application and any available relevant information on the implications of the proposed release. This will include relevant data or literature whether commissioned by the Government or by others, and whether peer reviewed or not peer reviewed.
Details of Government-commissioned GMO related research work are available on our website at www. defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/research. This includes details of completed projects and links to download or order any published reports. In addition to those projects listed on the website the following table shows other Defra funded research projects currently under way and indicates when they are expected to be published.
The volume of GMO related work published by others, either in peer-reviewed or non-peer reviewed publications, is vast and continually growing. The body of literature was recently reviewed by the GM Science Review Panel as part of the GM Dialogue, and their final report is available at www.gmsciencedebate. org.uk. This report has been made available to ACRE. In addition ACRE members are kept informed of any new publications as and when they appear.
§ Mr. MorleyGM biotechnology has a wide range of current and potential applications, for example, in the areas of health care, medicines, genomics, animal and plant health, food and agriculture. The results of the GM Nation? exercise will help to inform us in making policy decisions in these areas.