HC Deb 08 March 1989 vol 148 c532W
Mr. Moss

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in each of the last 10 years, what was spent on research by(a) the Government and (b) the private sector on (a) agriculture as a whole, (b) horticulture, (c) the apple and pear industry and (d) the soft fruit industry.

Mr. Ryder

The information requested in respect of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's expenditure in the last 10 financial years is shown in the table.

Mr. Ryder

Post-harvest treatments of potatoes are controlled as pesticides under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986.

The following active ingredients are the most commonly used in storage on ware potatoes, and are listed with their purpose. There are no specific products approved to discourage spoilage of potatoes by rats, but rodenticides are available for use in stores, subject to label restrictions.

Active Ingredient and Purpose

  1. 1. Thiabendazole—Systemic fungicide used to reduce gangrene, dry rot, skin spot, silver scurf.
  2. 2-Aminobutane—Fumigant for control of skin spot and gangrene.
  3. 3. Tecnazene—Fungicide for control of dry rot and Sprout suppressant.
  4. 4. Chlopropham—Sprout suppressant.