§ Mr. Corm Shepherdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his intention to make a new hop wilt order; if so, when he will do so; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerYes. Following consultations with hop growers and their representatives on problems relating to progressive verticillium wilt disease, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I propose to make an order amending the Progressive Wilt Disease of Hops Order 1978. The main provision of the order will give statutory force to the gentleman's agreement which has hitherto prevented the planting of resistant varieties of hops on uninfected land in Hereford and Worcester.
We hope to be able to lay the proposed order before the House in the very near future.
§ Mr. Colin Shepherdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many notifications of the disease progressive verticillium wilt have been made in the county of Hereford and Worcester during the last 12 months for which figures are available and the previous two 12-month periods; how many were confirmed in each period; and how many acres and how many holdings were affected by the disease.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerSuspected progressive verticillium wilt was reported in Hereford and Worcester on eight holdings in 1978, on three holdings in 1979 and on three holdings in 1980. In each of those years the disease was confirmed only on the same two holdings. So far this year suspected infection has been reported on ten holdings—including the two holdings on which PVW was confirmed in previous years. Results of tests are awaited. on the two holdings in Hereford and Worcester on which PVW has been confirmed a total hop yard area of 0.93 ha was grubbed in 1978, 6.18 ha in 1979 and 10.79 ha in 1980.