§ Baroness SHARPLESasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made in controlling the spread of Beech Bark disease, in trees of all ages.
Earl FERRERSThe Forestry Commission's Research Division continues to look into ways of combating and minimising the effects of beech bark disease, and the mechanisms of tree survival are becoming better understood. The disease is widely scattered in Britain, where it has been present for well over a century, but it spreads relatively slowly and serious losses of trees resulting from it are likely to remain local rather than general.