Written question asked by Oliver Letwin (Conservative) on Tuesday, 2 February 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 February 1999. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 February 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will ban the import of honeybees of the Italian sub-species, apis mellifera ligustica. - (Holding answer 8 February 1999).

Answer: Mr. Letwin: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the import of honeybees of the Italian sub-species, apis mellifera ligustica. [69488] Mr. Rooker: [holding answer 8 February 1999]: No. Apis mellifera ligustica is one of the most successful and commonly used honey bee strains in the commercial honey producing world. Since 1955, and probably earlier, thousands of consignments of ligustica have been imported by beekeepers into the UK each year.

Secondary information