§ MR. NAPIER (Kent, Faversham)To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the , 1685 Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to the introduction into Great Britain of the fungus disease known as the American gooseberry mildew, which threatens to destroy the culture of the gooseberry in this country, and to the need of taking stops to arrest the further progress of that disease; and what course the Board of Agriculture will be prepared to adopt with that object.
§ (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The Board have given much attention to this matter, and have issued broadcast a notice warning importers and others of the danger, and advising them of the stops that should be taken if the disease should unfortunately appear. I am sending my hon. friend a copy of this notice, which will, we hope, be successful in preventing the establishment of the disease in this country. If, however, we come to the conclusion that further powers are necessary we shall not hesitate to ask Parliament to grant them.