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CABINET OFFICE
Teenage Pregnancies
Mr. Corbett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to publish the Social Exclusion Unit report into teenage pregnancies. [81968]
Dr. Jack Cunningham: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister plans to publish the report shortly.
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Genetically Modified Crops
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of ways in which the biotechnology industry could use less exacting regulatory systems elsewhere in the EU in order to gain legal rights
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within the UK for (a) field trials (b) commercial growing and (c) produce distribution in respect of genetically modified crops. [81076]
Mr. Meacher:
The regulatory control of the release and marketing of GMOs is governed throughout the EC by Directive 90/220/EEC. This has been transposed into UK law through Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992, as amended 1995 and 1997. All Member States are required to implement the Directive fully.
The Committee of Competent Authorities for the Directive meets regularly to exchange information on implementation with a view to securing even application of the Directive throughout the EC. Therefore the regulatory systems in all EU member states should operate to similar standards.
All consents for GMO releases for the purposes of research, such as field trials, are issued at national level. For any field trial to be carried out in the UK, a consent must be issued by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
The commercial growing and distribution of GM produce require specific consents to be issued at the Community level under Directive 90/220/EEC. All Member States participate and can raise objections in this decision-making process. Once an approval has been issued, it may be used throughout the Community, provided any specific conditions on use or on types of environment and geographical areas for release are complied with.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish (a) an updated version of Table 1 of Appendix 4 of the report of the European Communities Committee of the House of Lords of Session 1997-98 (HL 11-I p57-8) concerning the regulation of genetic modifications in agriculture, stating in addition, in respect of each application, the policy of Her Majesty's Government and (b) a similar list of applications considered by (i) the EU Commission and (ii) a Council Committee, which were disapproved. [73721]
Mr. Meacher:
An updated version of the table is available on my Department's website. The volume of information requested is such that I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the table that includes the additional information requested.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the occasions in (a) the Regulatory Committee of the European Commission and (b) the Council of Ministers when approval for genetically modified crops for (1) experimental and (2) commercial purposes was granted; when the representatives of the United Kingdom (A) expressed disapproval of any such application and (B) (i) voted against and (ii) abstained, on any occasion when approval for that application has been obtained by qualified majority of opinion, together with the nature and origin of the application concerned. [73722]
Mr. Meacher:
Approvals for experimental releases of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are determined nationally.
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To date, only one application to place GMOs on the market has been given approval where the UK authority objected. The case, under Part C of Directive 90/220/EEC, concerned a genetically modified maize modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance. The UK had no objection to the marketing of this product for seed production but voted against its unrestricted use as proposed by the Commission. Full details are contained in the table referred to in my reply to my hon. Friend given today.
Mrs. Browning:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when work will commence on the A30 Woodleigh Junction. [81967]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Subject to the successful completion of the remaining statutory procedures, work on the A30 Woodleigh Junction Improvement could start early next year.
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many road building schemes using the design, build, finance and operate contracting method are currently (a) completed and (b) under construction; what is the estimated cost to public funds for each project over the life time of the DBFO contract; and if he will make a statement. [81897]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Eight DBFO contracts encompassing 11 trunk road schemes have been awarded and 10 of the schemes are now open to traffic. The A30 Honiton-Exeter Improvement scheme which forms part of the A30/A35 Exeter to Bere Regis project is still under construction.
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| Project | NPV range |
| M1-A1 | 186 to 281 |
| A419/A417 | 106 to 124 |
| A69 | 58 to 66 |
| A19 | 125 to 149 |
| A30/A35 | 129 to 158 |
| A50 | 58 to 72 |
| M40 | 155 to 210 |
| A1(M) | 138 to 165 |
Regional Development Agencies
Mr. Wyatt:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which chairpersons, chief executives and board members of the regional development agencies have since 1979 (a) had a political affiliation with a party, and which one, (b) donated more than £1,000 to a political party, and to which one, (c) donated more than £1,000 to persons in a political party, and to whom, and (d) have confirmed that (i) they and (ii) the companies they represent have had no off-shore funds; and if he will make a statement. [81922]
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Mr. Caborn:
Political allegiance played a part in the appointment process only in the case of the local authority members on the Boards of the regional development agencies (RDAs). The table provides details.
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