The Blandford Fly (Hansard, 12 October 1988)

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, the Health and Safety Executive has met the North Dorset District Council which is responsible for dealing with the Blandford Fly. Following this the council has applied for approval under the control of pesticides regulations to carry out a small-scale scientific test against the Blandford Fly. The Independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides is expected to consider the application tomorrow and make recommendations to Ministers.

§ Baroness Sharples
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. I had hoped to put down the Question in July, so the timing is immaculate. Will my noble friend accept that the only product which can help to cure the very unpleasant sting from the Blandford Fly is called an apis mel or bee sting, a homoeopathic product? Will he perhaps be able to tell the North Dorset District Council—which I believe is not aware of the product—to advise people that should they be stung this is what they should use?

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, if bad swelling or discomfort persists I believe that the best thing to do is to see a doctor. My noble friend is quite right, however: the herbal remedy to which she referred is known to be most efficacious. The process to which I was interested to hear her allude may sound somewhat paradoxical, but if and when afflicted your Lordships should certainly not be put off by the principle of the remedy just because it appears to cure a fly bite with a bee sting.

§ Lord Carter
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the Blandford Fly breeds in river beds and that the problem of disappearing rivers in Dorset due to the high levels of abstraction upstream by water authorities which is having a disastrous effect on the ecosystem surrounding the rivers could well be one of the causes of this problem? Is he aware that there is considerable concern that the proposed privatisation of the water industry could mean that such environmental problems are even further neglected?

The Earl of Dundee
I am grateful to the noble Lord. In the handling of this matter it is very much being borne in mind that nothing should be done, even in a limited experiment, which would damage the ecology and environment of the area.

§ Lord Kinnaird
My Lords, can the Minister please tell us what is the Blandford Fly? Secondly, can he tell us what it does? Thirdly, did it originate in Blandford'?

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, in answer to my noble friend's second question, it bites. In answer to his third question. he is correct in assuming that it did originate in Blandford. In answer to his first question on the fly's identity and purpose I understand that it has no connection at all with the Duke of Marlborough whose title is also Blandford and thus, so far as I know, it was not used to any extent in the battle of Blenheim.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, can my noble friend assure us that this fly, which sounds most pernicious, is neither a threatened nor a protected species?

The Earl of Dundee
No, my Lords, the fewer the better.

§ Baroness Turner of Camden
My Lords, can the Minister comment on the theory that the fly is a mutant arising from heavy use of fertilisers in farming? If that is so, could the chemical companies responsible for the production of fertilisers be approached to assist in research into this problem?

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness. I shall pass on her suggestion to my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.