Genetically Modified Crops

Part of Opposition Day – in the House of Commons at 5:22 pm on 8 June 2000.

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Photo of David Heath David Heath Shadow Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) 5:22, 8 June 2000

Then that is all right. There is a backlog in the correspondence section. One effective means of reducing the correspondence is to charge £30 to anyone who wants to object, which is the process that we have had to go through.

If the Government are to go ahead with listing Chardon LL, the moratorium means nothing. Effectively, there will be no legal barrier to a genetically modified crop being planted commercially. To be plain about it, the industry will take that course. It will lose patience in the end, unless the Government are prepared to take action.

The hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) has repeatedly referred to the issue of reliability, and it must be sorted out. We must have a clear understanding of where liability lies so that we do not have to consider whether there is a basis for legal action being taken.

There is no need for superstition, because there are enough scientific concerns. They need to be properly addressed in a neutral way, but with an emphasis on the precautionary principle. We need proper care, good science, good agricultural practice and, above all, openness and information. We have yet to see many advantages from GM crops, but we have already seen some of the disadvantages.

I welcome the new committee, although I do not know how it will find its place in the overcrowded arena of Government responsibility in this area. We may eventually need a system map to find our way round the Government's GM management system.