4 November 2001

National is proposing a special select committee be set up to oversee the Government's legislation on genetic engineering.

"This is a highly technical area which will require a lot of hard work from MPs with a particular knowledge of this issue," said Opposition Leader Bill English today.

"It is essential that New Zealand makes progress on GE. We need a knowledgeable select committee to make sure that the new rules will permit sensible progress. Helen Clark will be under pressure from factions of her Government to bury GE research in a mire of bureaucratic rules.

"It is important that Parliament takes this issue seriously and deals with it thoroughly. We hope the Government will view this proposal favourably in light of the fact that it may well be looking for National's support to pass the legislation," Bill English said.

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