HL Deb 11 June 1985 vol 464 cc1128-9

3.5 p.m.

Lord Sandys

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied that regular checks are being made on cargoes of timber and associated dunnage or ballast to prevent outbreaks of disease among our forests and woodlands similar to elm disease in 1972.

The Earl of Caithness

Yes, my Lords.

Lord Sandys

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that brief, emphatic and helpful reply. Can he tell the House what controls are available to the Government and what other means there are of controlling pests entering this country in timber imports?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the main statutory control is under the Import and Export of Wood and Bark (Health) (Great Britain) Order 1980, as amended, which was made by the Forestry Commissioners under powers contained in the Plant Health Act 1967. This is also backed up by further powers under the Tree Pests (Great Britain) Order 1980, which enables the commission to take immediate action. Further controls are undertaken by the Forestry Commission by the setting up of pheromone-baited insect traps at major ports, certain sawmills in the vicinity, and other locations where wood is stored for long periods.

Lord John-Mackie

My Lords, we all know the difficulties which the Forestry Commission has in making checks, because 90 per cent. of our wood and wood products come from abroad. But such checks are essential because none of us wants to see something like Dutch elm disease spreading to this country. I should like to ask the noble Earl whether the dunnage used to pack wood on ships is being checked as carefully as it should he. This is not taken away from the ports, and those responsible are duty bound to burn it or otherwise dispose of it properly. In order to save the expense of doing that, dunnage is often taken back out to sea and thrown overboard, and it is then washed ashore. Does the noble Earl know whether or not that aspect is being checked as carefully as it should be? I know that there were great difficulties about that at one time.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I understand that aspect has been checked carefully. Bearing in mind the noble Lord's concern, however, I shall raise the matter again with the department.