§ 62. Sir David PriceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent the spread of colletotrichum and Acutatum commonly known as black spot in strawberry plants in the United Kingdom; and what discussions he has had with his European colleagues to prevent the further importation of the disease from the mainland of Europe.
§ Mr. RyderWe have taken a number of measures, in consultation with the National Farmers Union and representatives of the strawberry nuclear stock growers, to prevent strawberry black spot spreading in the United Kingdom. Where outbreaks occur, these measures require the control of movement of plants, compulsory spraying regimes and destruction of infected plants at the end of the cropping programme, followed by various hygiene measures. In addition, samples of all known imports of strawberry plants will be subject to inspection and where necessary laboratory tests to establish freedom from infection.
Detailed discussions have taken place between my officials and the Netherlands plant protection authorities about preventing infected plants from the Netherlands being exported to the United Kingdom. The Netherlands authorities have undertaken to consider further action, and we are in close touch with them.