GOVERNMENT IGNORES GM RESEARCH AT ITS PERIL, WARNS DOUGHTY

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 9th Mar 2004

Sue Doughty, MP for Guildford, has expressed concern about ongoing research into the health implications of GM foods. As a member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee she has been critical of the government's approach to field trials of GM crops and their lack of understanding of public concern and the science involved.

After the statement today by the Secretary of State, Margaret Beckett, Sue said:

"The Secretary of State has refused to agree to a full debate and vote in the House of Commons. She has twisted research in order to justify her case while ignoring other research that does not support it. We need further research to provide a much stronger scientific consensus on the impact on the environment, and the impact on human health before agreeing to the commercial cultivation of GM maize.

"The Secretary of State implied to me in the House today that the British Medical Association was fully supportive of the government's proposals. However in their statement today the BMA said "research is still needed in key areas to allay remaining concern about the potential risks to human health and the environment". This is a dishonest approach from a minister who wrongly claims that we already have all the answers we need from science."