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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of options for controlling ash dieback other than through the destruction of saplings; and if she will take steps to support research into new means of controlling outbreaks of devastating diseases in plants and animals.

Defra has taken a number of steps in response to the outbreak of ash dieback including supporting measures to slow the spread. An associated programme of research has assessed different management options, including identification and development of resistant ash trees and chemical treatments. Further information is provided in the Tree Health Management Plan[1] published in April 2014. This document sets out key commitments on tree pests and pathogens as well as how the Government is working with others to manage these.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-health-management-plan