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MP Expense Claim
Douglas Ross (Conservative - Moray)
Date
Mon 22nd Apr 2024
4004522-62
Type
Office Costs
(Pooled staffing services)
Description
Policy Research Unit
Policy Research Unit (Conservative)
Amount
£1,774.00
Paid

MP Expense Claim
Douglas Ross (Conservative - Moray)
Date
Mon 22nd Apr 2024
4004522-61
Type
Staffing
(Pooled staffing services)
Description
Policy Research Unit
Policy Research Unit (Conservative)
Amount
£1,774.00
Paid

Written Question
Potatoes: Diseases
Monday 22nd April 2024

Asked by: Douglas Ross (Conservative - Moray)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect farmers against new strains of potato blight.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic approach that carefully considers all available plant protection methods and keeps the use of pesticides to levels that are ecologically and economically justified. IPM lies at the heart of our approach to minimise the environmental impact of pesticides and is a key tool for businesses facing the challenges of pesticide resistance, removal of pesticides from the market, and changing pest pressures due to climate change. Within the National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (NAP) we will set out our policies to increase the uptake of IPM by farmers, growers, amenity managers and amateur gardeners.

Having an IPM approach can reduce the risks associated with pesticides, combat pesticide resistance, and support sustainable agricultural productivity. IPM aims to diversify crop protection and reduce reliance on the use of chemical pesticides by making use of lower risk alternatives and promoting natural processes. For example, creating habitats for natural predators of plant pests, or using crop rotations to break pest, weed and disease cycles. When alternative methods are ineffective or unavailable, IPM also aims to optimise and minimise the use of chemical pesticides through targeted and precise application.

We have recently commissioned a package of research projects that will bring together scientific evidence underpinning IPM and to look at ways of further encouraging its uptake. This work will support farmers’ access to the most effective IPM tools available and ensure that we understand changing trends in pest threats across the UK.

Defra is also a partner in the European Research Area Network (ERA-Net) Co-Fund on Sustainable Crop Production (SusCrop). This research network aims to enhance cooperation and coordination of different national and regional research programmes focussing on agriculture and climate change, sustainable farming systems and biodiversity, sustainable water management, resource efficiency and resilience in the food chain. It also seeks to increase productivity through technological innovation.

Projects within SusCrop ERA-Net include: ‘Eco-friendly solutions for the integrated management of late and early blight of potatoes (ECOSOL)’ which aims to Identify Effective Biological Control Agents and Plant Resistance Inducers for the Control of Potato Late Blight in the field.


MP Expense Claim
Douglas Ross (Conservative - Moray)
Date
Wed 17th Apr 2024
60233761-2
Type
Accommodation
(Landline phone & internet - rental & usage)
Description
Sky Broadband
Landline & internet package
Amount
£14.09
Paid

MP Expense Claim
Douglas Ross (Conservative - Moray)
Date
Wed 17th Apr 2024
60233761-3
Type
Accommodation
(Council tax)
Description
Council Tax (5 months)
Amount
£210.00
Paid

MP Expense Claim
Douglas Ross (Conservative - Moray)
Date
Wed 17th Apr 2024
60233761-1
Type
Accommodation
(Utilities)
Description
Ovo Energy
Electricity
Amount
£96.66
Paid

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 15 Apr 2024
Cass Review

Speech Link

View all Douglas Ross (Con - Moray) contributions to the debate on: Cass Review

Division Vote (Commons)
15 Apr 2024 - Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - View Vote Context
Douglas Ross (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 310 Conservative Aye votes vs 1 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 312 Noes - 253
Division Vote (Commons)
15 Apr 2024 - Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - View Vote Context
Douglas Ross (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 312 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 319 Noes - 249
Division Vote (Commons)
15 Apr 2024 - Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - View Vote Context
Douglas Ross (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 311 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 319 Noes - 249