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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are investigating the possibility of establishing a statutory quarantine system for all trees imported into the United Kingdom.

The Government takes a risk-based approach to prioritise action on plant and tree pests and pathogens to improve resilience. We have produced, working with stakeholders from across industry, Non-Governmental Organisations, and the public, a prioritised plant health risk register of 750 known pests and diseases.

On that basis and where appropriate, we have acted to introduce movement restrictions or requirements for importers to notify incoming consignments of particular species - for example for ash, oak, plane, pine, elm and sweet chestnut.

We are also funding new research to ensure that we have a robust evidence base regarding the pests and diseases that could threaten our trees and plants.