§ 25. Mr. BellinghamTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on rhizomania.
§ Mr. CurryThe Government remain determined to prevent the introduction and spread of rhizomania, which presents a serious threat to the sugar beet industry. We operate a range of import controls and carry out extensive annual surveys of beet fields. The disease was first identified in 1987 at a farm in Suffolk and two further outbreaks were identified last year in Norfolk. These farms are subject to strict control measures designed to prevent the spread of the disease.