Japanese Knotweed

Baroness Sharples Excerpts

Tuesday 10th November 2015 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Sharples]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in preventing the spread of Japanese knotweed.

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con)]

My Lords, the work of local action groups, many established with Defra’s support, has reduced or eradicated Japanese knotweed in several places across England. Community protection notices, available since last year, enable local authorities to require landowners to deal with any nuisance caused by the plant. We continue to explore biocontrol options through the controlled release of a psyllid insect and expect to receive further reports of its progress in December.

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

Is my noble friend aware that I first asked this Question 26 years ago? We are certainly showing progress and I am most grateful to him for his reply.

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, my noble friend has certainly been tenacious and persistent in dealing with a real thug of a plant. We have had this plant since 1825, when, with good will, it arrived at horticultural gardens; 20 years later it arrived at Kew and was sent up to Edinburgh. I am afraid that we have the consequences of not understanding, as we do now with hindsight, that we should never have allowed this plant to come to these islands.