Non-native species do not normally get an airing in Parliament.

Perhaps that is one of the benefits of a by-election taking place in a certain place shortly.

I was interested to see that, within the past couple of weeks, the BBC ran a special item on this subject in its news bulletins for a week.

That shows the issue's importance, even if it is not on the radar of most Scots.

We must distinguish between non-native species—Scottish Natural Heritage reports almost 1,000 terrestrial and freshwater species and a further 24 marine species—and non-native species that are invasive and cause damage to natural habitats and native species.

SNH estimates that about 76 non-native species are clearly causing damage.

We should be concerned about only those species.

It is sometimes difficult to imagine that some of the species are a problem.

I think of the beautiful rhododendron displays that we get throughout Scotland in mid to late spring, and seeing them as I drive down the Great Glen from Inverness to Fort William.

On the west coast, in Ardnamurchan and Argyll, we can see their glorious colours, and they are used on picture postcards of Scotland.

However, they are certainly not a native species and they are damaging, because where rhododendrons grow, little else does.

That is a good illustration of one of the negative effects of non-native invasive species on biodiversity, to which others have referred.

Although the problem is widespread, there is a particular problem for sites of special scientific interest, which can be threatened.

Members have referred to the grey squirrel and its effect on our very delicate and beautiful red squirrel.

We had a debate on that subject the other evening, so I will not repeat all that was said, but it is a good example of a non-native invasive species threatening one of our species by forcing it out of its environment.

There are many other examples, as members have mentioned.

Giant hogweed is taking over many of our river banks and presenting a danger to young people, as well as pushing out other species.

Mink are having an effect on water voles, and Japanese knotweed is taking over in many places, not just in Scotland but in other nations as well, as I saw during my visits this summer.

Particular parts of the country, especially our islands, have distinct ecosystems and can be affected disproportionately by mainland species reaching them.

Roseanna Cunningham mentioned the hedgehogs in the Uists and the cost of eradicating them to stop them having a profound effect on ground-nesting birds.

Not only have the hedgehogs had an effect on biodiversity, they have had an economic effect, because a lot of tourists go to the Uists to see those birds.

So the economic effects can be important. I think of the slipper limpet—as I often do, Presiding Officer—making its way up the west coast and getting closer to our commercial mussel farms, which could be severely affected by the limpet's advance.

I think of the New Zealand flatworm, which threatened our earthworm in the past, and what it could do to the productivity of our soils.

Others have alluded to the dangers of the Norwegian freshwater parasite getting into Scottish rivers and affecting our salmon population, which would not only affect biodiversity but have a huge economic impact, particularly in my part of the world.

I think of the Harris superquarry and the many arguments that were levelled against it, such as the effect of taking aggregate across the world then bringing back ballast water from other parts of the world and releasing it into our waters.

That takes me to my third point, to which Nanette Milne has referred.

World trade, globalisation and the greater ease of travel increases the risk of importing invasive species.

We need to be more vigilant.

Compared with other countries, I wonder whether we are as vigilant.

Three years ago, I visited Australia.

As I went through customs, I had my shoes taken from me and disinfected, because I admitted that I lived in the countryside and the staff, I presume, wanted to ensure that no parasites got in on the bottom of my shoes.

Similarly, in the United States of America this year, I was stopped at customs because I was carrying an apple, and there was concern about a particular kind of fruit fly.

I confess that it occurred to me that the fruit fly could have flown out of the building that I was in.

Nevertheless, those are examples of countries being vigilant.

Climate change is also a threat.

As the air and the seas get warmer, the opportunities for species to survive further north increase.

Equally, because of changing temperatures, some of our species are moving further up our mountains and hillsides, which changes those habitats.

We are discussing important issues, which is why the framework strategy is in place at the GB level.

The strategy needs to be multipronged, and involve prevention, surveillance, detection and monitoring, rapid response, early intervention, eradication and control, more research, greater public awareness and a partnership approach.

If the Government comes forward with sensible measures—which it has indicated it will do—we will support it, because these are important issues.

Download this speech in PDF format at :

http://www.peterpeacock.org.uk/peterpeacockspeech30102008.pdf

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