My Lords, better than from this Dispatch Box, the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, has the authentic voice of the beekeeper to contribute to the debate.

My Lords, better than from this Dispatch Box, the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, has the authentic voice of the beekeeper to contribute to the debate.

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, on introducing such an important topic and speaking to it in such a constructive way. I am grateful to him for several of the points that he made. I should emphasise—this is a partial response to the anxiety expressed by the...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, on introducing such an important topic and speaking to it in such a constructive way. I am grateful to him for several of the points that he made. I should emphasise—this is a partial response to the anxiety expressed by the...

My Lords, I am careful about being too pre-emptive because of our necessary reservations about the research projects that will emerge, but I think that the noble Lord is right. We have identified the particular threat that exists for honey bees at present. That is why, as the noble Lord...

My Lords, I am careful about being too pre-emptive because of our necessary reservations about the research projects that will emerge, but I think that the noble Lord is right. We have identified the particular threat that exists for honey bees at present. That is why, as the noble Lord...

My Lords, of course, as the noble Lord is keen to emphasise, the problems know no boundaries in the United Kingdom. By the same token, neither does research—not research as fundamental as this is bound to be. I talked about Scottish Ministers and Scottish responsibilities more in connection with communication...

My Lords, of course, as the noble Lord is keen to emphasise, the problems know no boundaries in the United Kingdom. By the same token, neither does research—not research as fundamental as this is bound to be. I talked about Scottish Ministers and Scottish responsibilities more in connection with communication...

My Lords, it might appeal to the Minister, but bee inspectors have to be trained and need expertise. Transforming volunteers into effective bee inspectors is quite a challenge. I emphasise that the National Bee Unit is a serious unit, on which we rely a great deal as one of the...

My Lords, it might appeal to the Minister, but bee inspectors have to be trained and need expertise. Transforming volunteers into effective bee inspectors is quite a challenge. I emphasise that the National Bee Unit is a serious unit, on which we rely a great deal as one of the...

My Lords, the extra funding, which I am coming to in a moment, relates specifically to research. It is not part of that. The third priority, which the noble Lord emphasised to me, is that we have our databases up to date. They are a key source of free advice,...

My Lords, the extra funding, which I am coming to in a moment, relates specifically to research. It is not part of that. The third priority, which the noble Lord emphasised to me, is that we have our databases up to date. They are a key source of free advice,...

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the effect of disease on the British bee population, the spread of the varroa mite and the consequences for the pollination of crops and fruit. Motion withdrawn.

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the effect of disease on the British bee population, the spread of the varroa mite and the consequences for the pollination of crops and fruit. Motion withdrawn.