To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the devolved Administrations on the introduction of a single regulatory framework covering laboratory safety for genetically modified organisms.

DEFRA is in regular contact with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on matters concerning the regulatory regime for the contained use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). As the lead authority the HSE is responsible for liaison with the devolved Administrations. The current focus in this area is a plan to consolidate the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 and the three sets of amending regulations. A single regulatory framework for the contained use of GMOs and human and animal pathogens remains a longer term objective.