Written question asked by Lord Moynihan (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Henley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 October 2010.

Pollinator Services

Question: To Ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to fund data research into co-ordinated monitoring programmes for pollinator groups.

Answer: Survey and monitoring data collected by members of the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society are collated by a volunteer recorder and the results have been published by the Biological Records Centre as provisional atlases of bees, wasps and ants. The verified raw data behind the atlases are available via the National Biodiversity Network gateway website. In addition, Defra has joined together with four other major researchers to launch an insect pollinator initiative which will consider the wider problems facing pollinators. Up to £10 million will be available under the initiative. Defra is providing £2.5 million of this. Nine projects have been selected for funding based on their scientific quality, impact and strategic relevance and these were announced on 22 June. Further details are available on the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council website.

Secondary information