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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what instances of the importation of oak processionary moth on oak trees have occurred in the last 12 months.

The unprecedented expansion of oak processionary moth (OPM) on the continent has led to intercepts of OPM on oak trees imported from ten nurseries in the Netherlands and one nursery in Germany (as at 19^th July 2019). Swift action is being taken by the UK Plant Health Service to eradicate recent findings, including surveillance, tracing work and the destruction of caterpillars and infested trees.

Emergency measures were introduced on 15^th July to strengthen the import requirements for oak trees to reduce the risk of spread of this pest and protect the health of oak in the UK.