§ Mr. Jim Spicerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken to prevent the spread of Japanese seaweed from the Solent area, and also to eradicate it in the main infected areas, including the Isle of Wight and the Solent.
§ Mr. Denis HowellIn June 1975, my Department commissioned a three and a half year research programme by Portsmouth Polytechnic into means of eradicating or controlling the weed. Meanwhile, its spread is being carefully monitored and hand picking is continuing under the supervision of the polytechnic. There is no evidence, as yet, of plants establishing themselves beyond the Solent area. Those found recently on the Dorset coast were drift plants. However the Dorset County Council has very sensibly formulated plans to deal with the possibility.