§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that Colorado beetle are not inadvertently landed in Great Britain in imported potatoes; and if he is satisfied that risks to British potato producers will be kept to a minimum.
§ Mr. Strang:Our measures to prevent establishment of the Colorado beetle in this country recognise the fact that this pest is liable to accompany not only a wide variety of imported materials but also vehicles and indeed travellers themselves. For these reasons it is especially important that our traditional import requirements and inspection arrangements should be augmented by unceasing vigilance on the part of the public in general and the farming community in particular.
I welcome this opportunity of acknowledging the manner in which this vigilance has been exercised, and the presence of beetles promptly reported, particularly over the last two years when there have been rather exceptional problems due to factors such as the unusual beetle breeding, survival, and movement patterns on the Continent.
Apart, however, from maintaining our essential defences against the Colorado beetle my right hon. Friends have also been concerned to enlist the co-operation of the authorities in Continental countries where the beetle is established so as to minimise the risks at source.