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Barry Sheerman asked the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to support research into the management of (a) Japanese knotweed and (b) other alien plant species.

Richard Benyon (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Natural Environment and Fisheries), Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Newbury, Conservative):

DEFRA has been one of the main funding partners in a long-running project researching the possibility of identifying a biological control agent for Japanese knotweed. A controlled release of the highly specialist psyllid-"Aphalara itadori"-is now under way to help control this plant. If successful, this insect should restrict its growth, slow its capacity to spread vigorously and enhance the effectiveness of management effort, although it would not eradicate it altogether.

Other management-related research work on alien plant species supported by DEFRA includes a collaborative project with the Netherlands on four shared invasive aquatic non-native plants; scoping biological control for a further four highly damaging non-native species of plant; and developing a support protocol and methodology to enable the Overseas Territories to access invertebrate plant pest identification expertise within the Food and Environment Research Agency(Fera).

DEFRA, the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly launched a comprehensive Invasive Non-Native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain in May 2008. It has been described in a 2010 European Environment Agency report as an outstanding national response to the issue in Europe. The Strategy provides a high-level framework for a range of activities including research and is being implemented on a prioritised basis. We have now started work on developing a clearer statement of evidence needs to support its continued implementation. This will include management-related research and we will be taking this forward in collaboration with key partners.