The government sought yesterday to rebuff Tory complaints that science minister Lord Sainsbury is benefiting from his own promotion of GM crops.

Yesterday's Mail on Sunday reported that the minister's shares in Innotech, a firm developing GM foods have risen, despite falls in the stock exchange.

The paper suggested that Lord Sainsbury's enthusiasm for GM research was linked to his desire to further his business increases.

However the DTI denied the claim, pointing out that GM foods were the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Lord Sainsbury's assests were independently controlled by a blind trust, said a spokesman.