Ministers questioned over GM crops
29 April 1999
Ministers questioned over GM crops
By Jonathan Riley
ENVIRONMENT minister Michael Meacher and junior agriculture minister Jeff Rooker will be questioned about genetically modified (GM) crops by a Commons Select Committee today.
The notion of joined-up government has already taken a knock this week when Cabinet members expressed contrasting views on biotechnology in front of MPs.
Mr Rooker admitted to the Commons Science and Technology committee on Monday that UK agriculture GM crops were unnecessary.
But on Tuesday the Environmental Audit Committee heard that the biotechnology industry generated £10 billion a year for the economy and was here to stay.
Jack Cunningham, chairman of the governments Cabinet Committee on Biotechnology, explained why he rejected demands for a moratorium on GM crops.
“We cannot delay or hinder this industry because there are too many people involved and because it can bring economic well-being to the UK,” he said.
“The jobs of 1.75m people – 6% of the UK workforce – are already dependent on the biotechnology industry as a whole.”
Dr Cunningham added that biotechnology involved 250 businesses and contributed £10bn to the economy – 1.7% of the countrys gross domestic product.
Speaking after the hearing, Dr Cunningham said: “We have a large slice of this rapidly expanding industry which will be worth £70bn/year world-wide by 2000.
“It would be foolish to throw our stake away.”
That was at odds with environment minister Michael Meachers statement to the Science and Technology committee on Monday.
Mr Meacher said he regretted the industry links of some members on the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE).
It would be best to avoid such links when it came to future appointments, he said.