HC Deb 29 June 1988 vol 136 c270W
Mrs. Gillian Shephard

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there have been further discoveries of the incidence of rhizomania in East Anglia.

Mr. Donald Thompson

No.

Some infection by rhizomania virus has been discovered in the wrapped root balls of Acers imported from a nursery in the Netherlands. Scientific advice is that infection is unlikely to spread from this source. But immediate action is being taken by the Dutch authorities and ourselves to follow up this discovery.