To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her 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 mosquitos in Grand Cayman in 2009 and 2010.

DEFRA did not have any discussions with Oxitec prior to the trial release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Grand Cayman, nor do we hold information on the associated consent procedures as these are a matter for the Cayman authorities alone. Subsequent to the trial release Oxitec has provided us with a copy of the risk assessment that was undertaken with the Cayman authorities.