No 10 gives green light to GM food

The Government is poised to give the go-ahead next week to the first full-scale growing of genetically modified crops - a move certain to spark a major row.

The final decision was taken by the full Cabinet today. Tony Blair's official spokesman, while refusing to confirm the go-ahead, stressed that Cabinet believed that the "primacy of science" must outweigh protests not based on hard scientific evidence.

The announcement from Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett is certain to ignite heavy protest from environment groups.

A leaked document from the Cabinet Office last month suggested that permission for growing will be limited to a single variety of GM maize. But critics will claim that will open the door to a range of "Frankenstein foods".

The leaked minutes from a Cabinet sub-committee admitted the public "was unlikely to be receptive" to the move. But it warned that a ban would be "the easy way out".

The decision will also put the government on a collision course with an all-party commons committee set to call for a long delay on safety grounds.