What si'e of area it intends to plant with (a) all types of genetically modified (GM) crops, (b) GM spring oilseed rape and (c) GM winter o…

The Scottish Executive does not itself plant GM crops. It has however given approval for a maximum of 23 hectares, in total, of GM herbicide tolerant spring oilseed rape to be released at three sites this year as part of the Farm Scale Evaluation Programme. It is possible that the actual area planted will be less than this. No new applications have been received to release any other GM crops in 2002. Existing approvals permit no more than six hectares of GM winter oilseed rape and no more than 0.2 hectares of GM potatoes to be grown for research purposes on Scottish sites in 2002. It is not possible to know at this stage whether planting will proceed under these approvals, or whether any new applications will be received.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.