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1130431

registered interest
date	06/06/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the recent trends in the UK bee population.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	261132
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2019 answer text <p>Each year the Government publishes an indicator of trends in populations of wild bees and other pollinators in the UK. The indicator measures changes in the distribution of almost 400 species of bees and other insects since 1980 and shows that, for all pollinating insects, the indicator has declined by 22% since 1980 although it has stabilised in recent years. For bees, the indicator has declined by 17% since 1980 although it shows evidence of a recovery since 2013.</p><p> </p><p>Trends are also available for managed honey bees. The number of beekeepers registered on BeeBase, the National Bee Unit’s biosecurity system which underpins the Government inspectorate’s actions for bee health, has increased significantly over the last 10 years from 12,000 to over 40,000 today.</p><p> </p><p>Protecting pollinators is a priority for this Government. Since 2014 we have been working with a range of partners to implement a National Pollinator Strategy to address declines in wild pollinators and concerns about bee health, including establishing a pollinator monitoring and research partnership to gather further data and strengthen the evidence base.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 14/06/2019 09:47:25 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1045945

registered interest
date	22/01/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether an assessment has been made by the National Bee Unit on the risks associated with queen bee inbreeding in commercial bee-keeping operations; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	211221
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2019 answer text <p>The National Bee Unit (NBU) has not assessed the risks associated with queen bee inbreeding in commercial bee-keeping operations. However, the NBU and Defra officials have regular contact with commercial beekeepers. These bee farmers have not raised queen inbreeding as an area of concern. Most beekeeping operations do allow wild mating so queens cross-breeding with drones from other local colonies does occur naturally. In commercial operations, queens displaying symptoms of inbreeding would be replaced for economic reasons.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 30/01/2019 16:17:49 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

969324

registered interest
date	06/09/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the health of the bee population in the UK.
tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
uin	HL10154
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2018 answer text <p>The National Bee Unit has an extensive programme of monitoring and advisory visits to beekeepers to check for the presence of notifiable pests and diseases of honey bees and provide advice on biosecurity within the hive. They carry out around 5,000 visits per year. Levels of endemic notifiable diseases (European and American foulbrood) remain at low levels. The Government has well-tested plans to tackle incursions of exotic pests, such as the Asian hornet, which have been successfully used to find and destroy nests. The number of beekeepers registered on the BeeBase system (the National Bee Unit’s biosecurity system which underpins the bee health actions of the Government’s inspectorate) has increased significantly over the last 10 years from 12 thousand to over 40 thousand today.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In terms of wild bees, the UK’s ‘Status of Pollinating Insects’ indicator summarises trends for almost 400 pollinating insect species and was last published on the 19th July 2018. It measures how widespread each species is in each year since 1980 and shows that the overall status of pollinating insects has declined, but has stabilised in recent years. The Government is keeping this under review as an encouraging but not yet definitive sign of progress and is determined to continue working to see positive results across the full range of activities under the National Pollinator Strategy to improve the health of our bees.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 11/09/2018 15:42:37 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

847860

registered interest
date	23/02/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the health of the bee population in the UK.
tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
uin	HL5837
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2018 answer text <p>The current honey bee health programme aims to manage pests and diseases present to low levels whilst keeping harmful exotic pests and diseases out of the UK. The programme was developed with beekeeping experts and stakeholders and is actively monitored by Defra and the National Bee Unit each year. Bee inspectors monitor for changes in pest and disease prevalence through an annual surveillance programme of over 5000 apiary inspections. Trends in prevalence are published on the National Bee Unit website.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the National Pollinator Strategy, Defra is undertaking work to establish baselines for wild bee population trends and to monitor UK species distribution.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 09/03/2018 12:41:40 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

795325

registered interest
date	27/11/2017
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department has issued to pest control departments of local authorities on infestations of non-protected bee species in (a) residential and (b) commercial properties.
tabling member constituency	West Lancashire
tabling member printed	Rosie Cooper
uin	115746
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2017 answer text <p>Defra has not provided specific advice to pest control departments of local authorities on infestations of non-protected species.</p><p> </p><p>UK Government advice on pest control is available on our website: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/pest-control-on-your-property" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/pest-control-on-your-property</a>. This provides links to more detailed guidance produced by the British Pest Control Association, which includes advice on controlling bees and other insects.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 05/12/2017 16:16:18 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1538 label Biography information for Rosie Cooper

598238

registered interest
date	10/10/2016
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to tackle the threat from the Asian hornet to the honeybee population in the UK.
tabling member constituency	East Antrim
tabling member printed	Sammy Wilson
uin	47767
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2016 answer text <p>A contingency plan outlining the Government’s response against the Asian hornet is in place. The emergency measures it sets out are tested twice a year by the National Bee Unit ensuring that all field inspectors and support staff are trained in how to respond should an outbreak occur.</p><p> </p><p>Following a confirmed sighting of the Asian hornet in Gloucestershire, the National Bee Unit (NBU) enacted our established biosecurity protocols to confirm the scale of the outbreak and eradicate the pest. A single nest was located and destroyed. To date, no more live hornets have been seen in this area.</p><p> </p><p>The outbreak follows on from a policy review in 2013 whereby the National Bee Unit (NBU) increased the number of risk-based exotic pest inspections it carries out each year. These are targeted at early interception of non-native invasive species such as the Asian hornet. NBU Bee Inspectors also routinely provide advice and training to beekeepers to raise awareness of the threat and the need for vigilance.</p><p> </p><p>The Non-Native Species Secretariat has carried out a risk assessment looking at the risks and impacts of an Asian hornet outbreak. The key threat is believed to be against honey bee species, rather than other bee species. Asian hornets will impact on native species through predation, competition and impact on natural pollination.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 47768 question first answered 18/10/2016 11:38:18 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1593 label Biography information for Sammy Wilson

598239

registered interest
date	10/10/2016
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the threat from the Asian hornet to the honeybee population in the UK.
tabling member constituency	East Antrim
tabling member printed	Sammy Wilson
uin	47768
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2016 answer text <p>A contingency plan outlining the Government’s response against the Asian hornet is in place. The emergency measures it sets out are tested twice a year by the National Bee Unit ensuring that all field inspectors and support staff are trained in how to respond should an outbreak occur.</p><p> </p><p>Following a confirmed sighting of the Asian hornet in Gloucestershire, the National Bee Unit (NBU) enacted our established biosecurity protocols to confirm the scale of the outbreak and eradicate the pest. A single nest was located and destroyed. To date, no more live hornets have been seen in this area.</p><p> </p><p>The outbreak follows on from a policy review in 2013 whereby the National Bee Unit (NBU) increased the number of risk-based exotic pest inspections it carries out each year. These are targeted at early interception of non-native invasive species such as the Asian hornet. NBU Bee Inspectors also routinely provide advice and training to beekeepers to raise awareness of the threat and the need for vigilance.</p><p> </p><p>The Non-Native Species Secretariat has carried out a risk assessment looking at the risks and impacts of an Asian hornet outbreak. The key threat is believed to be against honey bee species, rather than other bee species. Asian hornets will impact on native species through predation, competition and impact on natural pollination.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 47767 question first answered 18/10/2016 11:38:18 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1593 label Biography information for Sammy Wilson

595615

registered interest
date	07/10/2016
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been invested in the protection of honey bees in the UK in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	47356
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2016 answer text <p>Defra has spent between £1.5 million and £2 million on protecting honey bees in England in each of the last five years.</p><p> </p><p>Our programme aims to protect honey bees from pests and diseases, including tackling disease outbreaks and monitoring for exotic pests such as the Asian hornet.</p><p> </p><p>Defra also contributed an additional £2.5 million to the £10 million Insect Pollinator Initiative carried out between 2010 and 2015. This was a joint initiative to look at different aspects of pollinator declines. Of the nine projects funded, two were specifically about honey bees and six were aimed at benefiting both honey bees and bumble bees.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 17/10/2016 16:14:17 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

533491

registered interest
date	04/07/2016
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the decline in the bee population.
tabling member constituency	City of Chester
tabling member printed	Christian Matheson
uin	905729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2016 answer text <p>In 2014 Defra published independent research on the status of pollinators in the UK. This showed an overall decline in wild bee diversity, a major cause of which has been the loss of flower-rich habitat driven by changes in agricultural land use and urbanisation.</p><p> </p><p>Our National Pollinator Strategy highlights the vital contribution we can all make, from farmers to window box gardeners, to support pollinators by ensuring they have food and a home.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 07/07/2016 16:13:39 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4408 label Biography information for Christian Matheson

511358

registered interest
date	12/04/2016
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Bees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the threat of the small hive beetle and the Asian hornet to the British bee population.
tabling member constituency	Taunton Deane
tabling member printed	Rebecca Pow
uin	33528
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2016 answer text <p>Defra’s Pest Risk Analysis for the small hive beetle, including an assessment of its potential impact, has been published and can be found at <a href="http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadDocument.cfm?id=945" target="_blank">www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadDocument.cfm?id=945</a>. The species risk analysis for the Asian hornet is also available online at <a href="http://www.nonnativespecies.org/downloadDocument.cfm?id=643" target="_blank">www.nonnativespecies.org/downloadDocument.cfm?id=643</a>.</p><p> </p><p>With the establishment of the Asian hornet in south-west France and its spread into northern France alongside the Channel, as well as the presence of the small hive beetle in southern Italy, the National Bee Unit has increased the number of risk based exotic pest inspections. It routinely provides advice and training to beekeepers to raise awareness of the threat and the need for vigilance.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 19/04/2016 12:18:42 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow