What si'e of area was planted with (a) all types of GM crops, (b) GM spring oilseed rape and (c) GM winter oilseed rape and how many trials…

Current approvals for the release of GM crops are listed on the Scottish Executive GM website and full details of all approvals are placed on a public register held by the Executive. In 1999 the Scottish Executive gave approval for the release of a total of approximately seven hectares of GM herbicide tolerant oilseed rape, in a number of small-scale research plots. The greatest proportion of these were sown with GM winter oilseed rape, while the remainder were sown with the GM spring oilseed rape. No other varieties of GM crop were released in this year. The Farm Scale Evaluation (FSE) Programme had not been embarked upon at this time.2000 was the first year of the FSEs in Scotland; two hectares of GM spring oilseed rape and 25.5 hectares of GM winter oilseed rape were planted in the FSEs, at a total of five sites. In addition to this, a total of approximately two hectares of GM oilseed rape was planted in small-scale research plots. No other varieties of GM crop were released in 2000.Nine hectares of GM spring oilseed rape, and 29 hectares of GM winter oilseed rape were grown in the FSEs at a total of seven sites in 2001. A total of approximately 3.5 hectares of GM oilseed rape was planted in small-scale research plots. 0.07 hectares of GM potatoes were also grown in 2001 for research and development purposes. This is not part of the FSE programme.