§ Mr. Heddleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will meet the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss in particular the threat to Great Britain's potato crop from the Colorado beetle.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerMy noble Friend the Minister of State met the chairman of the National Farmers Union potatoes committee on 22 May to discuss recent finds of Colorado beetles on imported produce. We have not received any request for a further meeting.
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will reconsider the removal of the cut-off dates for imports of early potatoes in July, August and September, particularly in view of the threat to Great Britain's potato crop from the Colorado beetle.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe requirements of the Import and Export (Plant Health) (Great Britain) Order 1980 include officially approved cleaning, packing and transport arrangements for potatoes in the exporting countries. We are satisfied that these arrangements provide very good safeguards against the introduction of Colorado beetles in potato imports.