§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure all reasonable precautions are being taken to ensure that pine wood nematode is not introduced into the United Kingdom; and if he will make it his policy to take any measures to extend existing derogations.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe most likely way in which pine wood nematode could reach this country is in coniferous wood containing the organism and its vector, the longhorn beetle Monochamus. Under the terms of the European Community Plant Health Directive, all coniferous wood imported into the United Kingdom from countries where the nematode is found has to be kiln-dried to below a specified moisture content. This process, while it should kill the vector, is not effective in killing the nematode itself. The European Community has therefore embarked on a research programme aimed at replacing the kiln-drying specification with fully effective heat pasteurisation schedules. Pending the results of this research, expected in the autumn, the European Commission has authorised the United Kingdom and nine other member states to derogate from the kiln-drying requirement in respect of sawn coniferous wood from North America that has been inspected and certified to be free of residual bark and the vector's bore holes.
The present derogation expires on 31 December 1991, but it is expected that it will need to be extended for a limited period in order to allow time for the new pasteurisation schedules to be agreed and reflected in Community legislation and for North American industry to install the necessary equipment. In the meantime, I am advised by the Forestry Commissioners, who are the statutory plant health authority in respect of forest trees and timber, that the present arrangements provide the necessary level of protection against the risk of pine wood nematode becoming established here.