The approach to responsibility and cost sharing in Australia was considered by the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Expert Task force in developing its advice on improving biosecurity. This was also one of the issues discussed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), on a recent visit to Australia.

Urgent work is already under way on the task force's recommendations for a prioritised Plant Health Risk Register and to strengthen contingency planning. An announcement on further action will be made in the coming weeks. While there were no specific recommendations made in relation to responsibility and cost sharing, developing the future approach to plant health will include consideration as to whether the sort of arrangements operating in Australia could be effective here in helping strengthen plant biosecurity.

We welcome, in principle, the European Commission's aim to simplify, modernise and reduce the costs associated with the current EU regulatory framework on marketing plant reproductive material. We are considering the proposal and its potential impacts with stakeholders and will be negotiating for a proportionate, flexible and simplified approach to legislation. Rules to mitigate biosecurity risks from import and movement of plant reproductive material are in the existing EU plant health legislation and in the recently published proposals which are part of a wider package covering plant health, animal heath, and controls for production of food and animal feed.

The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) does not hold an annual seminar but it holds a series of events, working group meetings and seminars on a range of issues related to plant health and plant protection products.

EPPO events include panels to assess the risk from recently identified pests and pathogens, as well as conferences or workshops for exchange of information about a particular pest or pathogen. Forestry Commission and Forest Research staff attend such events as appropriate. For example, a member of Forest Research staff joined an EPPO Forest Quarantine Panel meeting in February 2012. Both Forestry Commission and Forest Research staff also attended the recent EU COST Action FP1003 FRAXBACK meeting on Chalara fraxinea in November 2012.

Given the growing incidence of plant disease across the globe and the increasingly global nature of trade, what plans does the Minister have to address the long-term threat of disease to our plants and trees?

[holding answer 2 November 2012]: DEFRA funding for forestry research and plant health research is set out in the table. Against a background of efficiencies being made in base budgets for Forest Research and FERA, in which frontline expenditure has been protected, the Government has recognised the importance of this area by making available an additional £8 million to fund the Tree Health and Biosecurity Action Plan over the next four years. The THBAP funding covers both tree and plant health research. This investment has leveraged at least a further £4 million in additional funding from Research Councils, which is not reflected in the spending totals listed.

The figures for 2014-15 are provisional planning assumptions. Ministers are currently exploring what can be done to strengthen further the resources in this area.

[holding answer 7 November 2012]: The UK was instrumental in securing a review of the EU plant health regime which has remained largely unchanged since its introduction at the start of the Single Market. In partnership with key stakeholders the UK has been active in influencing the Commission's approach with key objectives being:

Faster decision making as plant health risks change and new pests arrive.

Better risk targeting and a shift of inspection effort from plant produce to plants and propagating material (including addressing threats from new and emerging trades).

More co-operation between plant health inspectorates across the EU.

The Commission's formal proposals for a new plant health law are expected early next year.

The UK was instrumental in securing a review of the EU plant health regime which has remained largely unchanged since its introduction at the start of the Single Market. In partnership with key stakeholders the UK has been active in influencing the Commission's approach with key objectives being:

faster decision-making as plant health risks change and new pests arrive;

better risk targeting and a shift of inspection effort from plant produce to plants and propagating material (including addressing threats from new and emerging trades);

more co-operation between plant health inspectorates across the EU.

The Commission's formal proposals for a new plant health law are expected early next year.