§ 16. Mr. Ridleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to bring in a compensation scheme where chrysanthemums have to be destroyed as a result of the disease called white rust.
§ Mr. HoyNo, Sir. I sympathise with the growers who have suffered losses as a result of this disease. But it is a general principle of our plant health controls that the occupier or owner concerned bears the cost of removing a source of infection.
§ Mr. RidleyIs the hon. Member aware that that is another very unsatisfactory Answer? Is he aware that his Ministry required defective stock to be destroyed and that, apart from the loss to the growers, this causes non-declaration of the disease by growers when it happens in their crops, with the result that it is spreading very greatly? Will he, therefore, reconsider this matter in view of the importance of chrysanthemums to many growers?
§ Mr. HoyI am sorry to hear that there are some growers concealing this disease. I have no confirmation of that and I should dread to think that there were growers who were doing it, because it could only have a very bad effect on their neighbouring growers.
§ Mr. ThorpeMay I ask two questions? First, is the Minister aware that the method of inspection carried out by the Ministry could be greatly improved? Is he aware that one of my constituents was told that his entire year's crop had to be destroyed and that it was only because he appealed and had a second inspection that the entire crop was reprieved? If he had not appealed he would have lost a year's income. Secondly, can the Minister—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The Liberal Party, too, must be brief in its supplementary questions.
§ Mr. ThorpeMay I briefly ask the Minister, secondly, to tell us what research is being done by his Department into the disease?
§ Mr. HoyThe last supplementary question is on a completely different matter. If there are some weaknesses in inspection I will have a look at them, but I would say on behalf of the whole of our inspectorate in any branch of agriculture that we get nothing but letters of thanks for the great services which the inspectors render.
§ Mr. RidleyIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment as soon as possible.