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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they are giving to each local authority in relation to (1) the desirability of carrying out a survey of the incidence of Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) in their area, (2) the desirability of establishing a programme for its suppression and removal, and (3) the best means of doing this both on land they own, and on other land in their area.

Advice relating to the identification and treatment of Japanese knotweed is openly available to local authorities through a variety of mechanisms. Defra and its delivery partners, including the Environment Agency and Natural England, provide guidance on their websites, as does the Non-Native Species Secretariat. The advice includes identification sheets and best practice guidance for management and removal. However, it is for the local authority itself to decide what priority and resource it places on tackling Japanese knotweed.