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It is estimated that approximately3,300 hectares of bog habitat meets the definition of active raised bog, andthat approximately 5,500 hectares meet the definition of degraded raised bogcapable of natural regeneration.

A cattle feeding study wascarried out by researchers at Reading University to investigate the effect of T25 (Chardon LL) maizeon ruminants. The study has been completed and the researchers intend to submittheir study to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. The Advisory Committeeon Releases to the Environment (ACRE) will be asked to fully assess the datawhen the peer review process is complete.

The researchers haveconfirmed that the study does not reveal any adverse effects on the health ofruminants fed T25 maize.

The Scottish Executive is not aware of any planned studies comparing the biodiversity impactof GM crops with organic crops.

Yes. We are seeking anamendment to the existing part C consent which will prevent glyphosate ammoniumbeing used in conjunction with conventional herbicides on Chardon LL maize.

The Scottish Executive has regular contact with the Welsh Assembly Government and the other UKAdministrations on a range of issues, including GM crops.

There are three designatedraised bog candidate Special Areas of Conservation in Dumfries and Galloway (atCarsegowan Moss, Raeburn Flow and Solway Mosses North) with all three supportingboth active bog and degraded bog still capable of natural regeneration.

It is estimated that 68% of the active raised bog and 34% of the degraded raised bog habitat in Scotland isincluded in designated candidate Special Areas of Conservation.

Scottish Natural Heritagescientific advice is that the habitat type found at Aucheninnes Moss does notmeet the definition of either “active raised bog” or “degraded raised bogcapable of regeneration”, and that the site therefore does not meet thequalifying criteria for selection as a possible Special Area of Conservation.

The Scottish NaturalHeritage report An inventory of lowland raised bogs in Great Britain (Lindsay, R.A. and Immirzi, P., 1996) identifies 807 raised bog sitesin Scotland. Of these, 281 are identified as supporting areas ofactive bog, and 344 supporting areas of degraded bog capable of regeneration. Itis important to note that the figures for degraded bog capable of regenerationrefer to sites supporting some area of vegetation capable of restoration to bogvegetation. This does not necessarily imply that each site as a whole iscapable of regeneration.

I am advised by the FoodStandards Agency that it publishes all results from surveys and research thatit commissions. Results from previous dioxins surveys are in the public domain,and more results are due to be published shortly. The agency also aims topublish, by the end of 2004, results from a larger survey of dioxins in fish,including wild and farmed salmon. In 2001, the agency published detailed advicefrom the independent advisory committee, the committee on toxicity of chemicalsin food, consumer products and the environment, explaining howtolerable daily intakes of dioxins are calculated. All of this information ispublicly available on the agency’s web-site.