Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill

– in a Public Bill Committee at on 28 June 2022.

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[Graham Stringer in the Chair]

Photo of Graham Stringer Graham Stringer Labour, Blackley and Broughton 9:25, 28 June 2022

We are now sitting in public and the proceedings are being broadcast. I have a few preliminary announcements: Hansard colleagues will be grateful if hon. Members could email their speaking notes to hansardnotes@parliament.uk; I ask hon. Members to switch electronic devices to silent; and a reminder that tea and coffee are not allowed during sittings. I have also been asked if hon. Members may remove their jackets: you have my permission to do so—it is quite warm in here.

We will first consider the programme motion on the Amendment paper, then a motion to enable the reporting of written evidence for publication and a motion to allow us to deliberate in private, if we so wish, about our questions before the oral evidence session. In view of the time available, I hope that we can take those matters formally. I ask the Minister to move the programme motion standing in her name, which was discussed yesterday by the Programming Sub-Committee.

Ordered,

That—

(1) the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 9.25 am on Tuesday 28 June) meet—

(a) at 2.00 pm on Tuesday 28 June;

(b) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 30 June;

(c) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 5 July;

(d) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 7 July;

(e) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 12 July;

(2) the Committee shall hear oral evidence in accordance with the following Table:

Date

Time

Witness

Tuesday 28 June

Until no later than 10.10 am

NFU

Tuesday 28 June

Until no later than 10.35 am

Professor Gideon Henderson, Chief Scientific Advisor, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Tuesday 28 June

Until no later than 11.00 am

Food Standards Agency

Tuesday 28 June

Until no later than 11.25 am

Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment

Tuesday 28 June

Until no later than 2.35 pm

The Royal Society; The Royal Society of Biology

Tuesday 28 June

Until no later than 3.15 pm

Angus Wheat Consultants Ltd; Rothamsted Research

Tuesday 28 June

Until no later than 3.50 pm

Organic Farmers & Growers; Soil Association

Tuesday 28 June

Until no later than 4.30 pm

NIAB; Crop Science Centre

Tuesday 28 June

Until no later than 4.50 pm

British Society of Plant Breeders

Tuesday 28 June

Until no later than 5.10 pm

The Center for Aquaculture Technologies

Thursday 30 June

Until no later than 12.15 pm

The Roslin Institute; Genus; The Pirbright Institute

Thursday 30 June

Until no later than 1.00 pm

Nuffield Council on Bioethics; Dr Madeline Campbell, Senior Lecturer in Human-Animal Interactions and Ethics, Royal Veterinary College; Compassion in World Farming

Thursday 30 June

Until no later than 2.20 pm

RSPCA

Thursday 30 June

Until no later than 2.50 pm

Beyond GM/A Bigger Conversation

Thursday 30 June

Until no later than 3.30 pm

Professor David Rose, Professor of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Cranfield University; Michael Edenborough QC, Serle Court Chambers; Professor Sarah Hartley, Associate Professor, University of Exeter

Thursday 30 June

Until no later than 3.50 pm

Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC)

Thursday 30 June

Until no later than 4.10 pm

Paul Temple, Farmer, Member of the Science Agriculture Advisory Group

Thursday 30 June

Until no later than 4.30 pm

Benchmark Genetics

Thursday 30 June

Until no later than 5.10 pm

NIAB; John Innes Centre; KWS

(3) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 5.00 pm on Tuesday 12 July.— (Jo Churchill.)

Photo of Graham Stringer Graham Stringer Labour, Blackley and Broughton

Copies of written evidence that the Committee receives will be made available in the Committee Room and will be circulated to Members via email.

Resolved,

That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication.—(Jo Churchill.)

Photo of Graham Stringer Graham Stringer Labour, Blackley and Broughton

Informally, I discussed with the Minister and the Shadow Minister whether the Committee might wish to sit in private to consider the structure of the questioning, but both agreed that there is no need for that, so I will not put that motion. We can therefore now commence the oral evidence session. If Members have any relevant interests to declare, now is the time to do so. No.

amendment

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