CONFERENCE VENUE HAD ROOM FOR ONLY 100

 Western Morning News

09:00 - 09 June 2003

  A senior Liberal Democrat has criticised the Government's handling of the
public debate on genetically modified food. Jeremy Browne spotted
information about a meeting in Taunton, one of six nationally, on a website.
But when he tried to book his place was told it was fully booked.

The debate was meant to cover the whole of the South West, but the room
booked only held 100 people.

To compound matters, Mr Browne later discovered that provision was made on
the night to cater for the extra numbers, but that this was never advertised
in advance, so he missed it.

"I told them I had a particular reason for wishing to attend as the Liberal
Democrats' parliamentary candidate for Taunton but they weren't interested,"
he said. "This consultation process was supposed to give people the
opportunity to have their say on the possible introduction of widespread GM
farming in Britain. Instead there was a meeting held in a room in Taunton
covering the entire South West region. The advance publicity for this event
was totally inadequate, but in any case there was only enough space for 100
people to attend.

"Many people have concerns about GM food and I support the idea of greater
public consultation. But it is hard to believe that this current process
will prove to have been worthwhile. No Government minister attended, and the
event had all the characteristics of a small scale talking shop.

"Meanwhile there remains genuine public interest in knowing more about GM
foods. If Britain goes down this road there are legitimate concerns that
remaining organic farm produce will be lost forever. We should not turn our
backs on science and close our minds to new ideas, but the burden of proof
must rest with the companies that wish to replace traditional food with new
variants of plants. They need to demonstrate that our natural environment
will not be damaged and that established food chains will be preserved. Most
importantly, the public wants to be certain that there are no possible
dangers to human health from GM food.

"Instead of holding token mini-discussions, the Government should lead a
proper national debate. This should involve opportunities for the public to
properly question ministers, scientists and environmentalists right across
Britain. Otherwise people will naturally be suspicious and concerned about
GM food."