§ Mr. Radiceasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes any changes in his policy towards plum pox.
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§ Mr. StrangYes. The arrangements for destroying suspect nursery material—that is, trees, root stock, etc., which although not showing evidence of infection have been exposed to the disease—with payment of compensation have helped to contain the disease; but we are concerned that available funds should be applied in the interests of commercial plum production as distinct from nurseries having a large trade in ornamental prunus material.
Urgent discussions with the industry are already in progress in the hope that a new approach to plum pox could start next year. In these discussions the emphasis is upon examining the possibility of new arrangements which would make for further encouragement of the certification scheme for plum stock.
In the meantime and as a holding measure it has been decided that a modified form of compensation should be payable for this year only but no further compensation provision is envisaged. Full details of this year's interim arrangements are being published today. The general effect is that compensation is related only to suspect stock in the fruiting plum sector, with more favourable terms for certified stock, and there are provisions to restrict movement of other suspect material.
Meanwhile, I would remind commercial plum growers of the desirability of planting or replanting only with certified stock. If they cannot get certified stock straight away, they would be well advised to consider delaying planting until it is available.