§ Mr. MossTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to whom his Department communicates the relevant information where his plant health department confirms that a batch of Scottish seed potatoes has high levels of virus infection.
§ Mr. CurryIf virus levels in excess of those prescribed in the Seed Potatoes Regulations 1984 are found in Scottish seed potatoes dispatched to England and Wales, this is reported immediately to the Scottish Office.
§ Mr. MossTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations govern the disposal or destruction of a consignment of Scottish seed potatoes which are confirmed to have high levels of infection or virus.
§ Mr. CurryRegulation 18 of the Seed Potatoes Regulations 1984 provides authorised officers with powers to serve notices requiring action to be taken in respect of seed potatoes which, on an official examination, do not meet various requirements in the regulations. The course to be taken will depend on the circumstances of the case. Notices are unlikely to be served if all the tubers have been removed from their sealed containers, thereby preventing their resale as seed, and if the virus concerned is not one which is subject to statutory action under the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1987.