§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent reports she received of Colorado beetle(a) unsolicited and (b) in response to requests for information; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. JackWe have received 25 reports so far this year of Colorado beetle in England, of which nine were as a result of inspections undertaken by the plant health and seeds inspectorate. This brings the total number of beetles found to 44.
The United Kingdom is a protected zone under the EC single market arrangements for plant health, and Colorado beetle is accordingly a notifiable quarantine pest in the United Kingdom under the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993. Each year we launch a publicity campaign to heighten public awareness about the pest. This has led to a good response from processors, traders and members of the public in notifying findings.
No breeding colony has been found in the United Kindom since one in 1976. The colony was successfully eradicated.