HC Deb 19 September 2003 vol 410 cc1188-9W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what study her Department has made into the incidence of Phytophthora ramorum in wild-growing Rhododendron ponticum. [130852]

Margaret Beckett

In collaboration with the Forestry Commission, English Nature, and the Countryside Commission for Wales, Defra is currently undertaking a survey of a sample of areas of wild-growing Rhododendron ponticum in order to establish the extent of the presence of Phytophthora ramorum and the likely impact on our native flora. To date 56 such sites have been inspected for the presence of the organism but it has been found on only two sites, both of which are in the area of an existing confirmed outbreak.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a list of gardens open to the public that have been served with enforcement notices in respect of Phytophthora ramorum during 2003. [130853]

Margaret Beckett

The Government believe the public should have as much information as possible about this disease and is happy to meet all reasonable requests for information. However, the information obtained specifically in relation to individual premises has been gathered in pursuance of the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate's statutory powers and on the basis of this information, where necessary, enforcement notices are issued to ensure compliance. In the absence of a statutory obligation to publish details identifying individual premises, to publish such details without consent could seriously jeopardise our ability to work with business in relation to the reporting and control of Phytophthora ramorum.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many gardens and nurseries have been visited by her Department's staff during 2003 in order to take samples to test for Phytophthora ramorum; what the time scale is for the testing programme; how many staff are employed on the testing programme; and if she will make a statement. [130854]

Margaret Beckett

Since 1 January 2003, staff from Defra's Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate, the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate and the Central Science Laboratory have visited 2,961 parks, gardens, nurseries and other retail outlets in order to take samples to test for Phytophthora ramorum. Up to 14 scientific staff from the Central Science Laboratory are directly involved in the process of testing for this disease and each routine test can take up to seven days.

Defra has committed resources to continue the visits and the testing programme at least until the end of March 2004.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned to discover for how long Phytophthora ramorum has been present in rhododendrons and related plants in this country. [130855]

Margaret Beckett

It is unlikely that we will be able to determine exactly how long Phytophthora ramorum has been present in rhododendrons and related plants in this country. However, surveys are currently being conducted to establish how widespread the disease is and this may give an indication of how long it has been present.

In addition, the literature has been reviewed for records of Phytophthora species on rhododendrons in the UK. The established authority "Pathogens of Trees and Shrubs" by Pearce, published in 1963, states that at that time there was no evidence of any Phytophthora on rhododendrons. The first record of a Phytophthora species on this host was in 1968. Phytophthora ramorum was first described as a new species in October 2001 and first found in the UK in April 2002.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs how many samples have been tested for Phytophthora ramorum during 2003; what proportion of samples have proven positive; and if she will make a statement. [130856]

Margaret Beckett

Since 1 January 2003, 3883 individual laboratory tests have been carried out on samples of plant material suspected of being infected with Phytophthora ramorum fungus in the United Kingdom. 15.9 per cent. of these samples were confirmed as being infected with this pathogen.

Defra and the devolved authorities continue to survey for the disease and to take eradication action against any findings.