§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether consignments from England and the Netherlands of plant species subject to fireblight are controlled through inspection;
(2) what steps he has taken to prevent the spread of fireblight into Scotland from infected areas in Southern England and Wales.
§ Mr. RossUnder the Destructive Pests and Diseases of Plants (Scotland) Order, 1966, my Department's Inspectorate has full power to deal with any instance of this disease. Consignments of plants and trees coming to Scotland from England and Wales are not inspected for fireblight as a matter of course, but the Inspectorate keeps a close watch for evidence of it as part of its duties in nurseries and elsewhere.
Imports of plants and trees from abroad are subject to the international phytosanitary certification system and to check inspection by the appropriate agricultural Department at the point of entry in accordance with the Importation of Plants and Plant Produce (Health) (Great Britain) Orders.
No incidence of this disease has yet been recorded in Scotland where the climate is less favourable to its spread.