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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to prevent diamondback moths from destroying seasonal Brussels sprouts crops.

Protecting our country from pests and diseases is important for our economy, the environment and our health and we will continue to monitor the situation and work with farmers to limit the damage to our valuable crops sector.

Diamondback moths migrate to the UK every summer. While the number observed this year was particularly high, a range of control methods is available for farmers to protect their crops, including through application of the pesticide Benevia 10OD. The Government issued an emergency authorisation for the use of this pesticide to combat the moth earlier this year.