§ Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to check the spread of the giant hogweed.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartMy right hon. Friend's powers under the Weeds Act, 1959, to prescribe weeds as injurious and to require occupiers of infested land to take action against them are intended primarily to safeguard commercial food production. There are not sufficient grounds to justify using these powers against the giant hogweed since there is no evidence to suggest that it has become more common on agricultural land or is a threat to agriculture.