Written question asked by Ben Chapman (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 July 2008. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Thursday, 10 July 2008 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Bees: Diseases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2008, Official Report, column 1324W, on bees, what steps his Department is taking to investigate bee colony losses; and how and by whom the bee colony losses are being investigated.

Answer: Scientists and inspectors at the National Bee Unit (NBU) are monitoring the situation and maintain contact with experts in the USA and in Europe to learn about developments in bee colony losses.This year, the situation is still emerging as more inspections are completed but there have been some significant losses in the UK. If beekeepers report significant losses in England and Wales to the NBU for which there is no ready explanation (such as poor Varroa management or poor husbandry) they will be investigated as a high priority.The proportion of colonies so far found dead is slightly higher for 2008 than it was for the equivalent period in 2007. £90,000 of additional funds has been allocated to the NBU to expand investigations started last year under a horizon scanning project into significant losses and to meet the demand for increased inspections of bee imports consequential to the colony losses.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 217004; 478 c1772-3W
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Bees: Diseases
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Disease control Bees
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk