§ MR. G. H. MORRELL (Oxfordshire, Woodstock)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture (1) whether Germany has prohibited the entry of fresh fruit from the United States because the San Joséscale insect (Aspidiatus perniriusus) has been found in a case of imported apples; (2) whether the Hamburgh Senate have granted permission for the further export of consignments to England; and has the Department any information whether this pest of American fruit-growers has been acclimatised in England; and (3) if so, whether he will cause inquiry to be made with a view to the adoption of stringent measures to prevent development of attack?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. W. LONG,) Liverpool, West DerbyThe reply to the inquiries contained in the first two paragraphs of my hon. Friend's Question is in the affirmative, but it appears that the pest in question was found in some imported pears, not apples. The subject is being carefully investigated by my Department, and if I find that it is in our power to issue any advice or render any assistance to fruit-growers in the matter, we shall, of course, at once take steps to do so.