Home / Sources / Select Committees / Science and Technology Commit… / Genetically modified insects inquiry
Select committee: Science and Technology Committee

Genetically modified insects inquiry

Closed Opened 20 Jul 2015 Closed 9 Dec 2015

Science and Technology Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee in its report 'Genetically Modified Insects' calls on the Government to launch a field trial of genetically modified insects, and make the most of the UK's status as world leader in this area of research. The technology has the potential to help control diseases such as dengue and malaria, by rendering insects unable to transmit disease. This could potentially help nearly half the world's population, who live in at-risk areas. GM technology could also reduce insect populations to minimise their threat to animals and crops, thereby saving billions of pounds globally

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 20 July 2015.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 1st Report - Genetically Modified Insects on 17 December 2015.

The government's response

Published 1 March 2016.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government agrees on some points, such as international guidance and monitoring developments, but does not think it is "necessary or would be appropriate" to commission a GM insect trial "at the present time".

  • On international guidance, the government "agrees that it is important to provide international leadership", and says it "will continue to play an active role" in the Cartagena Protocol forum.
  • On annual progress reports on the EU regime, the government "does not believe that this is an appropriate area", and instead proposes updates "as and when there are significant developments to report".
  • On including benefits in regulation, the government "recognises the force" of the argument but says it could make the EU regime "more complex, burdensome and subjective", and says decisions should be science-based.
  • On public dialogue, the government "will keep under review" holding one when GM insect technologies are near commercialisation, and says it "would not propose to open up the existing regime for public debate".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

All reports

Evidence

  • 5 oral evidence sessionsLatest 10 November 2015
All evidence

Recent activity

Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions

On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys.

Date Session and witnesses Source
10 Nov 2015
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
3 Nov 2015
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
27 Oct 2015
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
20 Oct 2015
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
13 Oct 2015
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗