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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's most recent assessment is of the extent of the spread of ash dieback disease across UK woodland; and if she will make a statement.

The spread of ash dieback has been progressing much as expected. This is based on the scientific modelling of the outbreak undertaken by Cambridge University.

The Government has a comprehensive surveillance programme in place to monitor the infection. The level of infection is widely variable in areas, with the south-east of England being most affected. A map showing outbreaks is updated regularly and available online at: http://chalaramap.fera.defra.gov.uk/

Local effects on landscapes and woodlands will mostly be gradual and mitigated by other tree species taking the place of ash trees. We have invested more than any other country in research on Ash Dieback and UK scientists have identified the country’s first ash tree that shows tolerance to ash dieback. As part of this work we are conducting the world’s largest screening trials to identify further disease-tolerant trees.