§ Mr. David Stoddartasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the control of potato wart disease in gardens and allotments.
§ Mr. PeartThe need to control potato wart disease has long been recognised in Great Britain, and it has been a notifiable disease for some 70 years. The discovery that some potato varieties are immune to the disease has helped to keep it very much in check, but when it does occur it is extremely persistent. It is therefore in the interests of all who grow potatoes—in gardens and allotments as well as on a commercial scale—for crops to be kept free from the disease.
The latest measure for control of the disease is the Wart Disease of Potatoes (Great Britain) Order 1973. This makes different provisions for gardens and allotments from those applying to farms. On farms, when wart disease is found no potatoes at all may be grown on infected land, nor may plants be removed for transplanting elsewhere. In addition, in a surrounding safety zone only immune
604Wpotato varieties may be grown. The order provides for the planting of potatoes on gardens and allotments to be restricted as from 1st July 1974 to varieties immune to wart disease.
Some popular potato varieties, such as King Edward and Duke of York, are not immune to the disease and could not therefore be grown on any gardens or allotments under the present legislation after 1st July 1974. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have reviewed the matter and have decided that satisfactory controls on wart disease can be achieved without having this effect.
We have therefore decided to introduce as soon as possible an amending order under the Plant Health Act 1967 to remove this absolute prohibition on the planting of non-immune potato varieties in gardens and allotments. It will of course be necessary for us to continue to be able to restrict future cropping of potatoes and transplanting material in gardens and allotments—as well as on farms when wart disease is confirmed.