A cover up to hide a serious problem? Concern at 'secret' GM crops disposal There are five small-scale GM trials in Scotland Questions are to be raised in the Scottish Parliament over reports that genetically modified crops have been secretly destroyed. The Scottish National Party says ministers apparently authorised the burial of crops from a trial site in the Highlands at a site in England. The SNP is to question why this is necessary when Scotland has more than 200 landfill sites of its own. More than 100 tonnes of GM oilseed rape were allegedly taken from a trial site near Munlochy, on the Black Isle, to an undisclosed landfill site south of the border. We are not keen to say where the GM oilseed rape was taken Scottish Executive spokesman The SNP's environment spokesman, Bruce Crawford accused environment minister Ross Finnie of "secrecy" and said the removal of the crops had "all the hallmarks of a military operation". Trial crops have to be disposed of to make sure they do not enter the food chain but the SNP and anti GM campaigners are concerned over claims made in the Sunday Mail that they were taken under the cover of darkness in a convoy of lorries. A Scottish Executive spokesman said the destruction of crops is not its responsibility. However, he did confirm that oilseed rape from the Highlands was disposed of outside Scotland. The paper was told by the executive: "We are not keen to say where the GM oilseed rape was taken but we can confirm it was transported to a landfill site outside Scotland. "The crop had to be destroyed because it was grown purely for research purposes and does not have the necessary approvals for consumption in this country. "Decisions on GM releases in Scotland are the responsibility of Scottish Ministers while the harvesting and destruction of crops are the responsibility of the consent holder." The SNP's environment spokesman, Bruce Crawford, said the executive need to demonstrate the openness they promised Scotland when they came into power. 'Secrecy and mystery' He said: "So much for the open and transparent government that this executive promised to the Scottish people. "Ross Finnie is quick to tell us that GM crops are safe, however when it comes to the disposal of crops it is surrounded by secrecy and mystery and has all the hallmarks of a military operation." He added: "I will be tabling questions in the Scottish Parliament on Monday demanding answers from the minister." There are five small-scale GM trials in Scotland, four involve oilseed rape and the other, potatoes. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Sell a Home for Top $ http://us.click.yahoo.com/RrPZMC/jTmEAA/MVfIAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/