HC Deb 17 July 1996 vol 281 cc592-3W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask th2e Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons(a) Uncle Fred's pea, (b) the Welsh onion, (c) the Mortgage Lifter runner bean and (d) the Ormskirk late green Savoy cabbage are omitted from the list of species which are allowed to be commercially bought or sold as seeds; and if he will make a statement. [36226]

Mr. Boswell

The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982, as amended, which implement EC directives, require a variety on the UK national list or EC common catalogue to have a maintainer responsible for maintaining it true to its original description. A variety of Savoy cabbage named Ormskirk was removed from the UK national list in 1989 because no one wished to maintain it. My Department has no record of the varieties Uncle Fred's pea and the Mortgage Lifter runner bean being entered as candidates for the UK national list under those names. Marketing of varieties of the species Welsh onion is not controlled by the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982, as amended, and may therefore take place without these varieties being listed.

Mr. Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) why(a) the May Blossom cauliflower, (b) the Prizewinner swede, (c) the Black Kidney potato, (d) the everlasting green kale, (e) the Black Sugarsweet turnip, (f) the blight resistant Virginia spinach, (g) the Tommy Toe tomato and (h) the Giant Tree tomato are omitted from the list of species which are allowed to be commercially bought or sold as seeds; and if he will make a statement; [37450]

(2) for what reasons Ely white celery is omitted from the list of species which are allowed to be commercially bought or sold as seeds; and if he will make a statement. [37359]

Mr. Boswell

The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982, as amended, which implement EC directives, require a variety on the UK national list or EC common catalogue to have a maintainer responsible for maintaining it true to its original description. A variety of cauliflower named May Blossom was removed from the UK national list in 1984 because no one wished to maintain it; a variety of swede named Prizewinner was removed from the UK national list in 1975 and a celery named Ely white was removed in 1985 for the same reason. My Department has no record of the varieties Black Kidney potato, everlasting green kale, Black Sugarsweet turnip, blight resistant Virginia spinach, Tommy Toe tomato or Giant Tree tomato as being entered as candidates for the UK national list under these names.