Prior to 17 April, MAFF Ministers held various meetings about GMOs at some of which the issue of GM free seed purity in relation to agricultural production was discussed. This particular issue is not within ACRE's remit. The Secretary of the Seed Crushers and Oils Processors Association was informed by my officials on 16 May that the Government would be making an announcement on this matter. This work transferred to the Food Standards Agency on 1 April this year. The low levels of man-made radioactivity found in the English Channel cannot be attributed with any certainty to particular sources.
Indications are that the policy has been successful.
Support in the form of courses, videos and other material are available to staff who wish to stop smoking but, to date, no-one has taken advantage of this. The Department's policy covers all offices throughout the estate. Suitably equipped, ventilated, smoking rooms are provided at all major sites. Costs exclude expenditure on genetic modification. Figures for research spending in 2002-03 and beyond are not yet available.