§ 40. Mr. Kimballasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has had from the Agricultural Research Council about the progress of the chemical control of bracken; and when he expects to have sufficient evidence to allow chemical spraying to rank for Government grant under the Eradication of Bracken Scheme.
Mr. VaneMy right hon. Friend has been kept in close touch with the trials carried out by the Agricultural Research Council's Weed Research Organisation. They do not as yet provide conclusive evidence of the degree of effectiveness of chemical control of bracken. I am afraid it is not possible to say when or whether the evidence from these trails will justify grant-aid for this method of bracken control.
§ Mr. KimballWill my hon. Friend give an assurance that, as soon as he gets a satisfactory report about any one of the chemicals with which experiments are now being carried out, he will allow it to be used under the Eradication of Bracken Scheme?
Mr. VaneI can tell my hon. Friend that we are as anxious as he is to secure effective control of bracken, but I cannot give the specific assurance for which he asks in such a case. The House will 1745 realise from my reply to an earlier Question how careful one must be with any form of chemical spray.
§ Mr. WoodburnWill the hon. Gentleman consider other forms of control such as the use of cattle and pigs on the land to destroy the bracken?
Mr. VaneAll these various methods—including both good husbandry, such as the right hon. Gentleman mentioned, and control by various methods of cultivation are well known.