§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress that has been made by the working party on plant theft.
§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 12 November 1990]: The working party agreed proposals announced in September 1989 for a voluntary scheme to combat theft by manufacturers marking new plant with a 17-digit identifying number and issuing plant identity documents. The working party is giving further consideration to means of promoting implementation of the scheme nationally and internationally.