Written question asked by Alan Simpson (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 November 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 13 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, whether in the GM farm scale evaluations (a) commercially useful yield, (b) starch and (c) dry matter measurements of the final GM maize crop were independently obtained to confirm whether the use of this herbicide regime would allow an economically viable crop to be grown.

Answer: Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether in the GM farm scale evaluations (a) commercially useful yield, (b) starch and (c) dry matter measurements of the final GM maize crop were independently obtained to confirm whether the use of this herbicide regime would allow an economically viable crop to be grown. [137656] Mr. Morley: Such measurements were not made. The GM and conventional maize in each field evaluation were compared at every stage of growth and results were only included in the analysis where these correlates of yield were comparable and consistent with the protocol requiring `cost-effective weed control'.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 137656; 413 c411W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Crops Genetically modified organisms Pesticides Research Maize Weedkillers
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk