To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs against what criteria the outcome of the public debate on genetically modified crops will be judged. [103053]

The Government will judge the outcome of the public debate on the opportunities that it has presented people to gain a fuller understanding of the wider issues surrounding genetic modification and to reach their own judgement. The Government set up an independent public debate steering board that announced its own indicators against which it would assess the success of the debate. These include the extent to which people felt they were able to participate, their awareness of the debate, whether it was credible and innovative, and whether it improved the present understanding of public views.