To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department (a) had discussions with Oxitec prior to and (b) holds information on the (i) consent procedures in place for and (ii) environmental impact assessment of the experimental release of genetically-modified mosquitoes in Grand Cayman in 2009 and 2010.

Responsibility for environmental affairs is devolved to the Government of the Cayman Islands. My Department did not therefore have discussions with the parties concerned.

However, the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) in Grand Cayman has confirmed that it is working in collaboration with Oxitec; that it provided a risk analysis and an environmental impact assessment; and that it complied with regulatory procedures provided for in local legislation.

Further information can be obtained from the Director of the MRCU, Dr William D Petrie, who can be contacted at:

william.petrie@gov.ky.