HC Deb 17 June 1996 vol 279 cc369-70W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those species of tomato the buying and selling of whose seeds is permitted. [32272]

Mr. Boswell

Sale of seed of all species of tomato is permitted in the United Kingdom. However, sale of seed of varieties of tomato species Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten is controlled by the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982, as amended. The effect of the regulations, which implement EC directives, is that seed of varieties of this particular tomato species may be marketed only if they are on a national list of varieties of vegetable species or the EC "Common Catalogue of Vegetable Varieties."

There are currently 50 varieties of this tomato species on the UK national list and some 1,500 on the EC common catalogue.

Mr. Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) for what reasons the Butcher's disease-resisting cucumber is omitted from the list of species which are allowed to be commercially bought or sold as seeds; and if he will make a statement; [32276]

(2) for what reasons the Brown Bath Cos lettuce is omitted from the list of species which are allowed to be commercially bought or sold as seeds; and if he will make a statement. [32275]

Mr. Boswell

The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982, as amended, which implement EC directives, require a variety on the UK national list or EC common catalogue to have a "maintainer", responsible for maintaining it true to its original description. "Butchers disease-resisting" cucumber and "Brown Bath Cos" lettuce were deleted from the UK national list in July 1986 and April 1979, respectively, because no one could be found to maintain them.

Mr. Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons John's Purple carrot is omitted from the list of species which are allowed to be commercially bought or sold as seeds; and if he will make a statement. [32277]

Mr. Boswell

There is no record of a carrot variety "John's purple" being entered as a candidate for the UK national list under this name.