§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies he has carried out into the numbers of areas in Scotland where the New Zealand flatworm has been found; if it is increasing in numbers and areas affected; and what assessment he has made of its impact on native earthworms and soil structure.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 26 January 1995]: In 1992 research was commissioned by the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department into the distribution of New Zealand flatworm in Scotland and also its impact on agriculture and horticulture. The flatworm was found to be widely distributed, mainly in private gardens and allotments. There is evidence to show that it has not become widely established in agricultural land. The research was thus unable to assess fully the impact on earthworm populations and soil in an agricultural background.
There has been an increase in sightings reported by the public. These are recorded by the Scottish Crop Research Institute, which monitors the position in conjunction with the Department. The need for further research into the impact of the New Zealand flatworm and methods of control is kept under review.