§ Mr. CunliffeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take to encourage local authorities to combat the ragwort weed. [78814]
§ Mr. MorleyRagwort is an injurious weed under the provisions of the Weeds Act 1959. That Act permits the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, rather than local authorities, to serve notice on any occupier of land to control injurious weeds from spreading. Where resources permit, local authorities can themselves play a positive part in eradication, for example, by active weed control alongside rural roads and on any other land which they own.