Written question asked by Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party) on Thursday, 12 June 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 June 2003. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Monday, 23 June 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what aid, including financial assistance, has been provided to bee farmers by her Department to help combat the threat of varroa in each of the last five years. - (Holding answer 18 June 2003).

Answer: Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what aid, including financial assistance, has been provided to bee farmers by her Department to help combat the threat of varroa in each of the last five years. [119971] Mr. Bradshaw: [holding answer 18 June 2003]: Combating varroa as been the greatest single challenge to UK beekeeping since the mite was first detected in Devon in 1992. Defra funds a range of bee health measures to assist bee farmers and the beekeeping sector generally, the cost of which has been around £1.3 million in each of the last five years. Under these measures, the National Bee Unit (NBU), part of the Central Science Laboratory, provides a free diagnostic and inspection service to beekeepers in England as well as training and technical advice to help them become more self-reliant through improved bee husbandry. In addition, the NBU has been carrying out routine screening throughout England and Wales for varroa mites that are resistant to authorised treatments, having first detected them in August 2001.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 119971; 407 c532W;407 c534W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Government assistance Farmers Pest control Beekeeping Varroosis Bees Pests
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk