26 May 2000

 DESTRUCTION OF SCOTTISH GM CROPS POSSIBLE - FINNIE

 By PA news reporters

 Scottish rural affairs minister Ross Finnie last night refused to rule
out the possibility of ordering the destruction of GM-contaminated crops
planted in Scotland - even though that has been ruled out in England by Mr Brown.

 Speaking on BBC's Newsnight Scotland programme, he said: ``I am not
prepared to rule out any action which the Scottish Executive on the basis of
advice and the facts could take.''

 Mr Finnie described MAFF's decision not to tell his officials of the
contamination as ``disappointing'' and said it came at a time when the departments were
working closely on aid packages for farmers.

 A spokesman for the National Farmers Union in Scotland said it was
still unclear how many farmers had been affected north of the border.

 ``The figure of 60% of the seed which was contaminated being sown in
Scotland has been floated, but it has not yet been substantiated,'' said the
spokesman.

 ``We obviously have confidence in Mr Finnie but he will have to ask
questions as to the information which came from MAFF.

 ``There has obviously been a delay in him gaining the information.

 ``In the end the farmers are the ones that are planting these seeds
because they bought them in good faith.

 ``The main concern for our members is whether compensation is going to
be an issue for farmers.''