HM Government recognise the importance of all pollinators, including bees, and their value to both food security and sustaining the natural environment. We are currently considering a range of evidence on the state of bees and other pollinators in order to determine what action is required.

Many of our agricultural crops and wild flowers rely on visits by insect pollinators (bumble bees, honey bees, solitary bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, hoverflies) to produce seeds and fruits. Given their important role as pollinators, the health, population size and diversity of these insect species are essential. for UK agriculture and for our natural ecosystems.

It is estimated that insect pollinators contribute £500 million per year to UK agriculture. The relative contributions of the various species to this total value is not known, although the UK's National Ecosystem Assessment (2011) suggested (based on numerical rather than field-based observations) that wild pollinators contribute a significant proportion of this total.

The provisional UK 2012 wheat yield figure was published as part of the Statistical Notice on UK agriculture and horticulture, and cereals and oilseed rape production on 15 October 2012.

The provisional UK yield of wheat for 2012 was 6.7 tonnes/hectare which is 13.8% lower than the 2011 yield of 7.7 tonnes per hectare. Yields were variable across the English regions. The highest yield of 7.3 tonnes per hectare was found in the eastern region and the lowest yield was in the north-west and Merseyside at 4.8 tonnes per hectare. With the exception of the eastern region, there has been a notable decrease in yield. The difficult weather this year led to high levels of disease during spring and summer combined with low sunlight levels during the grainfill period were the main reasons for the lower wheat yields.

The full Statistical Notice is at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/files/defra-stats-foodfarm-landuselivestock-farmingstats-june-statsrelease-jun2012ukprovcrops-1210151.pdf.

Final figures are due to be published on 20 December.

Under section 137A of the Highways Act 1980 it is an offence, subject to certain conditions, for a crop to encroach over a highway, and enforcement of the legislation is by the local highway authority. The need to restore public rights of way on land on which crops are grown is also a requirement under the Cross Compliance Regulations.

DEFRA provides relevant guidance to landowners in the Natural England publication 'Managing Public Access' and in the Rural Payment Agency's two publications on cross compliance, 'Guide to Cross Compliance in England', and 'Guidance in Cross Compliance in England: Management of Habitats and Landscape features'. The guidance states that the surface of disturbed cross-field footpaths or bridleways must be restored to the required width within specified periods of time.

The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) Order 2008 imposes restrictions on anyone growing maize within 2,500 metres of airports where there is a high risk of the introduction of the plant pest Diabrotica virgifera (the western corn rootworm). Heathrow Airport is deemed to be high risk and so is designated. The order states that “a designated zone shall extend to a radius of at least 2500 metres around the runways of, or around any other areas where aircraft move within, an airport”. The current area under restriction consists of 611 ha² within the boundaries of Heathrow airport and 4,423 ha² in the 2,500 metre zone surrounding this area. Most of the area under restriction is unlikely to be used for agricultural purposes (as it includes residential and industrial premises, reservoirs et cetera) and for the remainder the restrictions will only apply when maize is grown.

The addition of a new runway would potentially increase the area subject to these restrictions, but the exact area will depend on the size and location of any additional runway. However we are investigating the removal of these restrictions next year following a trial of increased trapping and surveillance in the 2,500 metre zone around some high risk airports during this growing season.

DEFRA has not made any specific assessment of the profitability for farmers of catch crops. These crops tend to be grown as forage crops, often substituting for grazing or silage. Their contribution to farm profitability, while being taken into account where appropriate, has not been separately assessed—the output in terms of livestock production will be within livestock sales and value change, while the costs incurred in growing them, e.g. seed, fertiliser etc, are normally subsumed within farm costs.

DEFRA has made no specific assessment of the potential for legal challenge by farmers against the Environment Agency due to the effects of recent flooding on crops.

All pesticide approvals can be reviewed, and amended or revoked if necessary, if new evidence comes to light. Due to the importance of bees, the Government is committed to looking carefully at the new evidence as it emerges. The Government carried out a thorough analysis following the 2009 Buglife report and considered the subsequent evidence in 2011.

At that point, the body of evidence supported the continuing authorisation of the neonicotinoids. We are now looking carefully at the most recent research studies.

The recent studies are being examined by the Health and Safety Executive's Chemicals Regulation Directorate, DEFRA's Food and Environment Research Agency, as well as the independent scientific Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The work is being overseen by DEFRA's Chief Scientific Adviser and we will take into account the statement published on 1 June by the independent European Food Safety Authority about this research. DEFRA aims to publish its findings by the end of July.

The regulatory system for pesticides is comprehensive and is constantly updated to ensure that it continues to protect people and the environment. The risk assessment for bees has been an area of particularly active development in recent years. The independent European Food Safety Authority has just produced a scientific opinion on the EU bee regulatory risk assessment and will produce a new guidance document on this for member states to follow in authorising pesticide products. UK officials are closely involved in these developments.

Results from DEFRA’s annual June survey, available at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/foodfarm/landuselivestock/junesurvey/

show that there were 139,000 hectares of uncropped arable land in England in 2011, a 7.2% decrease from June 2010, as shown in the following table, with farmers taking advantage of good planting and market conditions to grow more cereals and oilseed rape, leaving less land uncropped. Official DEFRA figures for June 2012 will be available in August 2012.

The Government welcomed the Foresight report on the Future of Food and Farming, which explores the pressures on the global food system between now and 2050. We recognise that in order to feed the predicted increase in population in the UK and the world by 2050, we will need to increase food production sustainably in the UK, EU and beyond.

DEFRA spends £28 million (2011-12 figures) annually on research to encourage sustainable food production; enhance the environment and biodiversity and support a sustainable, secure and healthy food supply. DEFRA also supports a substantial programme of research to improve animal health and welfare within the agricultural sector, approximately £30 million was spent during 2011/12 in support of it.

DEFRA is contributing £30 million over five years to the £90 million Technology Strategy Board Agriculture and Food Innovation Platform, which is funding collaborative research with industry to stimulate innovation in farming and food production systems.

DEFRA is providing funding for the current call of the Information and Communication Technology and Robotics ERAnet (ICT-AGRI) to support research and development and innovation projects on sustainable crop and animal production with other EU members.

From the period 2007 to 2015 DEFRA has supported several research projects addressing increasing crop yields while maintaining sustainability and ecosystem services. Two key projects are: 1. WC1034 ‘FARMLAND’ which is examining interdependences between biodiversity and

cropping. 2. DEFRA project IF01116, which is investigating contributory causes of the current yield plateau in wheat and oilseed rape.

Roundup (containing the active substance glyphosate) is regulated in the UK by Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. The operation of the regulation is underpinned in Great Britain by the Plant Protection Products Regulations 2011 and in Northern Ireland by the Plant Protection Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011.

Authorisations for the use of Roundup are supported by data that indicate that residues (of glyphosate) expected to arise in foods or feedstuffs as a result of that use are within acceptable levels. The assessment takes into account residues that may arise in animals intended for human consumption as a result of eating treated feed.

Maximum residue levels (MRLs) are set for foods marketed in the EU, including foods imported from third countries, reflecting the highest amount of residues expected to arise from the authorised use of pesticides. It is the responsibility of those putting food and feed into the supply chain to ensure that they comply with MRLs. Those set for glyphosate in cereals and soya are as follows:

Imported grain and soya have not been tested for residues under the UK’s monitoring programme for pesticide residues. However, grain grown in the UK and food products that contain wheat or soya from any country of origin and are available to UK consumers are included in the monitoring programme and are tested for residues of glyphosate. Bread is tested every year, wheat flour and soya products less frequently. In the past five years, no residues of glyphosate have been detected in these products at levels indicative of residues above the MRL in the unprocessed wheat or soya.

It is too early to determine what impact the drought may have on barley and wheat yields in the UK. The majority of the crops are well established with few serious or widespread problems identified. The recent rainfall has been beneficial and has provided sufficient moisture for nutrient uptake and crop growth, but it could increase the risk of certain diseases.

Much of the impact will depend on the weather conditions between now and harvest. However, farmers are experienced at dealing with changes in weather and their impacts on the natural environment, and will continue to adapt to mitigate these as far as possible.