3. Mr. B. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take action to ensure that Altaswede seed imported into the United Kingdom is stained to make sure that it is not mixed with other home-grown clovers thus spreading the risk of red clover stem eelworm.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. James Scott-Hopkins)The Seeds Regulations, 1961, require the variety and country of origin of red clover seed to be declared by the seller. We are satisfied that these requirements give the buyer of seeds adequate protection against admixture, and we do not think that the staining of Altaswede seed imported from Canada is necessary for this purpose, or would have any effect upon the incidence of red clover stem eelworm in this country.
Mr. HarrisonWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that in Canada and the United States they use a method of staining seed to ensure that infected seed does not get involved with their domestic supplies? Would he not consider, in view of the importance of the export of clover seed from the Eastern Counties, banning all infected seed from coming into the country?
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsI am aware of the regulations in force in Canada. Experience has shown that Altaswede seed is not unsuitable for growing in this country and that it is particularly useful when supplies of home-grown clover seed are short. There are no plant health reasons why this should be stopped at this moment.