§ Viscount MASSEREENE and FERRARDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will prohibit the import of unbarked timber as a precaution against the introduction of further arboreal diseases.
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEMy Lords, in the unavoidable absence of my noble friend Lord Beswick, I will reply to the noble Viscount's Question. In those cases where there is a plant health hazard the importation of wood with the bark attached is in fact prohibited. Her Majesty's Government are aware of the dangers of the introduction of further tree diseases and as new information is received plant health precautions are kept under review.
§ Viscount MASSEREENE and FERRARDMy Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that Answer, may I ask whether she is aware that apart from the ravages of elm disease, which she will know well, we now appear, certainly in the Eastern counties, to be having a disease which affects beech and also a disease (whether it is the same disease I do not know) which affects oak trees? As the noble Baroness mentioned the hazard to plants, may I ask whether she includes trees in the word "plant"?
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOEYes, my Lords, I think I 594 Do, I am aware of the dangers of oak wilt, to which the noble Viscount referred, and preventive legislation about that is already in force. The noble Viscount probably had in mind the case of living plants, and imports of these from outside the British Isles also are prohibited. Her Majesty's Government have this problem very much in the forefront of their mind and the noble Viscount can rest assured that we have it more or less under control.
§ Viscount MASSEREENE and FERRARDMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness very much for that assurance.