Written question asked by Lord Barker of Battle (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 March 2004. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 March 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many GM plants per square metre would be expected to grown in a field of conventional crops of which 0.9 per cent. of plants are GM in respect of (a) oil seed rape, (b) sugar beet and (c) maize. - Inc figures. (Holding answers 2 March 2004).

Answer: Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many GM plants per square metre would be expected to grown in a field of conventional crops of which 0.9 per cent. of plants are GM in respect of (a) oil seed rape, (b) sugar beet and (c) maize. [158276] Mr. Morley :[holding answers 2 March 2004]: Seed drilling rate is variable, depending on conditions, and only a proportion of those seeds sown will establish. Approximate figures for established plants are as follows: Oilseed rape 50-60 crop plants per metre square; Beet 8-10 plants per metre square; and, Fodder Maize 10 plants per metre square. Accordingly, 0.9 per cent. of these values would give 0.45-0.54 plants per metre square for Oilseed Rape; 0.07-0.09 plants per metre square for Beet; and, 0.09 plants per metre square for Maize.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 418 c1544W;418 c1546W; 158276
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Crops Genetically modified organisms Maize Sugar beet Oilseed rape
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk