7. CONCLUSION 
We see the system of advice and control we have proposed as providing a 
framework within which progress can be made in an exciting and important 
new field of science that offers great potential benefit. Provided that the 
system operates flexibly so that advice to laboratories can be made available 
quickly and so that there can be a rapid response to new developments (with 
a view for example to modification of precautions if necessary), we believe that 
scientists will welcome and act on authoritative guidance from the centre. We 
think that it may be necessary for the Government to consider the introduction 
of specific statutory powers to control genetic manipulation but that a decision 
on this should be deferred until there is experience of the operation on a 
voluntary basis of the system which we recommend. 
IV- 20 
[ 460 ] 
