§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received from the cricket bat willow research group; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryThe group has reported that a voluntary levy scheme, based on the numbers of cricket bat clefts produced, was introduced on 1 October 1989. The money raised from the levy will be used to fund research by the University of East Anglia, in close co-operation with Essex county council, into the causes and spread of watermark disease of willow.
Surveys carried out this year by Essex county council in the main cricket bat willow area show that the disease is at the lowest level on record.