Written question asked by Lord Barker of Battle (Conservative) on Tuesday, 11 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 November 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information she has received about whether the planting of GM crops would lead to a change in the use of (a) pesticides and (b) chemical weed killers.

Answer: Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has received about whether the planting of GM crops would lead to a change in the use of (a) pesticides and (b) chemical weed killers. [138813] Mr. Morley: Almost all of the GM crops that have been grown under trial in the EU in recent years, or are under consideration for commercial growing, are associated with changes in the use of herbicides and/or insecticides. Each GM crop is assessed on its own merits and any application to release must be accompanied by a dossier that includes detailed information on any potential changes in pesticide use and the effects this would have on the environment. The GM crop farm- scale evaluations, conducted in the UK, made a detailed assessment of the impact of herbicide use associated with three types of GM crop. A copy of the results, which were published last month, is in the Library.

Secondary information