§ Mr. Tim SmithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has made any estimate of the size of the slug population; and what evidence he has of its rate of growth in recent years.
§ Mr. RyderWhilst I have no estimate of the size of the slug population, long-term monitoring shows no indication of a population explosion. Recent weather conditions have, however, encouraged greater slug activity which has caused local problems for cereal and oilseed rape growers in particular.