§ Mr. Leeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement upon the measures being taken to prevent the further spread of Dutch Elm disease; and what state of progress has been reached in replanting.
§ Mr. StrangI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Shoreham (Mr. Luce) on 24th July 1975—[Vol. 896, c.270–1.] So far as replanting is concerned, reasonable progress is being made within the financial constraints now operating.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice has been given to the Sheffield Metropolitan District Council and Sheffield Metropolitan County Council about the incidence of Dutch Elm disease in the South Yorkshire area, following recent outbreaks.
§ Mr. StrangThe Forestry Commission has been in close contact with officers of the South Yorkshire County Council and the Sheffield District Council for the past 18 months. These councils were also represented at a meeting between the Peak Park Planning Board, the Forestry Commission and local authorities held last autumn to discuss the disease and its control in the North Midlands. Following these discussions the district councils of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield have applied for and been granted the powers available under the Dutch Elm Disease (Local Authorities) Order 1974, which enables local authorities to take steps against Dutch elm disease.