UK brings in pollsters, focus groups to tackle ...
RTw 15.12.98 16:06
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UK brings in pollsters, focus groups to tackle biosciences
LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Britain's Science Minister said on
Tuesday he was calling in opinion pollsters to consult the public
on whether there should be new rules governing the
fast-developing field of biosciences.
The survey into public attitudes has been prompted by signs of
failing confidence in how the government regulates controversial
areas such as cloning, genetic testing and genetically modified
crops, Lord (David) Sainsbury told a news conference.
"There is a lack of confidence in the regulatory
system," he said, acknowledging that public concern had been
sparked by the crisis over BSE (mad cow disease) in Britain,
currently being investigated by a public inquiry.
Sainsbury said the consultation, to be handled by MORI on behalf
of the Office of Science and Technology, part of the Department
of Trade and Industry, would begin with a series of focus groups
and then seek answers to a series of questions from 1,000 members
of the public.
They will be asked how much they know about scientific advances
in biosciences, the issues they see emerging, how much they know
about current regulations, and what issues they want considered
in monitoring developments.
"Our long-term aim is to build public confidence in the
Government's use of scientific information and knowhow,"
Sainsbury said.
"I believe the original handling of BSE crisis did not help
public confidence. The impression was formed that information was
not fully in the public arena."
Trade Secretary Peter Mandelson told the news conference it was
important to "get facts into the public domain before
prejudice gets in first" and mentioned the need for clear
labelling to allow an informed public to make its own decisions
and choices.