Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 March 2018 to Question 131506 on Phytophthora Ramorum, how many Statutory Plant Health Notices were issued in (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017 to fell infected (i) larch and (ii) rhododendron.

The Forestry Commission and the Animal and Plant Health Agency been actively managing Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernovie since 2009 to minimise spread.

Phytophthora ramorum is found across the UK. In England most infected sites are in the south west and north west. We continue our risk-based approach to identify infection in the wider environment and when it is found we issue Statutory Plant Health Notices to fell infected larch and rhododendron.

We still have specific measures in place that regulate the movement and processing of infected larch to prevent the spread through the trade in timber and related products. We work closely with all stakeholders to help manage the disease, we share good practice, promote and improve biosecurity, and continue to carry out research to better understand this pathogen.

The following table shows a breakdown of Statutory Plant Health Notices issued for Phytophthora ramorum sites on larch and rhododendron in England.