Written question asked by Alan Simpson (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 March 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 23 March 2007. It was answered by Barry Gardiner (Labour) on Monday, 16 April 2007 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Diabrotica Virgifera

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which (a) public and (b) private research establishments have received permission to carry out contained experiments involving Diabrotica virgifera in the UK since 1995; on what date permission was granted in each case; what conditions were attached to the consents in each case; and under what legislation the permission was granted in each case.

Answer: The following establishments currently hold licences under Part 8 of the Plant Health (England) Order 2005 to carry out scientific experiments on Diabrotica virgifera (preferred name Diabrotica virgifera virgifera), subject to a range of measures to prevent release or escape of the pest.(a) Public research establishments:DEFRA's Central Science Laboratory, YorkRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew(b) Private research establishments:Syngenta, Jealotts HillUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of DurhamUniversity of NewcastleWarwick HRI, WellesbourneConditions in the licences include:(i) use of quarantine containment facilities which have been approved by the DEFRA Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate(ii) inactivation of waste material during the research(iii) destruction of all licensed material at the end of the research(iv) record keeping(v) provision of access to DEFRA inspectors to conduct audit visits.It has not yet been possible to retrieve information back to 1995 on licences issued under Article 30 and 30A of the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as this information is available.

Secondary information