§ Mr. Bob Dunnasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many plant health inspectors are employed in the United Kingdom; how many should be employed; and if it is his intention to increase the establishment.
§ Mr. WigginMy Department's plant health and seeds inspectorate, which operates in England and Wales, consists of 69 inspectors. Plant health inspections are also carried out by staff of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, and the Forestry Commission but in each case the officials concerned also perform other duties. These staff resources are considered adequate for present purposes but are790W being reviewed, by the Departments concerned, in the light of new plant health regimes that will apply when EEC directive 77/93 takes effect.