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1659790

registered interest
date	11/09/2023
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	Hornets
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 steps she is taking to help ensure councils have the necessary funding to tackle the presence of Asian hornets.
tabling member constituency	Canterbury
tabling member printed	Rosie Duffield
uin	198930
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>Asian hornet is a Non-Native Invasive Species which could have a significant impact on honey bees and wild pollinators if it were to become established in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>For this reason Defra and Welsh Government developed the <a href="http://chrome-extension/efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/www.nationalbeeunit.com/assets/PDFs/2_Diseases_and_Pests/Asian-Hornet/2023-01-03_Asian_hornet_contingency_plan_Public_version_English-AC.pdf" target="_blank">Asian hornet contingency plan</a> which outlines the government response and what actions will be taken when incursions of Asian hornet occur.</p><p> </p><p>The response to Asian hornet is delivered by the National Bee Unit (NBU) - part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency.</p><p> </p><p>We have taken contingency action against all credible sightings of Asian hornet that have been reported in the UK since the first occurred in 2016. As of 12<sup>th</sup> September 2023, the NBU have located 43 Asian hornet nests this year.</p><p> </p><p>So currently there is no requirement for local councils to take action against Asian hornets. Nevertheless raising awareness is a key aspect of the response so if local councils are made aware of Asian hornets in their area we would ask them to report it through the Asian hornet app or online. By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 19/09/2023 10:49:42 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4616 label Biography information for Rosie Duffield

1659862

registered interest
date	11/09/2023
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	Hornets
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent the spread of Asian hornets in England.
tabling member printed	Lord Swire
uin	HL10053
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p>Defra and the Welsh Government developed the Asian hornet contingency plan (copy attached) in response to the spread of Asian hornet across Europe and the associated impacts reported on honey bees and pollinators. The Contingency Plan details what actions will be taken when incursions of Asian hornet occur with the aim of preventing this species establishing and spreading in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>We have taken contingency action against all credible sightings of Asian hornet that have been reported in the UK since the first occurrence in 2016. Contingency action is delivered on the ground by the National Bee Unit (NBU) – part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency. As of 12<sup>th</sup> September 2023, the NBU have located 43 Asian hornet nests this year.</p><p> </p><p>Genetic analyses of hornet and nest samples are done to determine relatedness and assess whether Asian hornets are established in England. Evidence from previous years suggested that all 13 Asian hornet nests found in the UK between 2016 and 2022 were separate incursions and there is nothing to suggest that Asian hornets are established in the UK.  We have not seen any evidence which demonstrates that Asian hornets discovered in England this year were produced by queens that overwintered. More detailed analysis will be done over winter to assess this.</p><p> </p><p>Raising awareness is a key aspect of the response. We ask anyone who thinks they may have spotted an Asian hornet to report it through the Asian hornet app or online. By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 15/09/2023 12:47:42 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name 2023-01-03_Asian_hornet_contingency_plan_Public_version_English-AC (2).pdf title Asian hornet contingency plan
tabling member	1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire

1658879

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
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	Hornets
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to contain the spread of the Asian hornet to the UK.
tabling member printed	Lord Moynihan
uin	HL9945
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p>Defra and the Welsh Government developed the Asian hornet contingency plan (copy attached) in response to the spread of Asian hornet across Europe and the associated impacts reported on honey bees and pollinators. The Contingency Plan details what actions will be taken when incursions of Asian hornet occur and has been regularly updated with the most recent version published in January 2023.</p><p> </p><p>We have taken contingency action against all credible sightings of Asian hornet that have been reported in the UK since the first occurrence in 2016. Contingency action is delivered on the ground by the National Bee Unit (NBU) – part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency. As of 6<sup>th</sup> September 2023, the NBU have located 37 Asian hornet nests which have been destroyed.</p><p> </p><p>Genetic analyses of hornet and nest samples are done to determine relatedness and assess whether Asian hornets are established in England. Evidence from previous years suggested that all 13 Asian hornet nests found in the UK between 2016 and 2022 were separate incursions and there is nothing to suggest that Asian hornets are established in the UK. We have not seen any evidence which demonstrates that Asian hornets discovered in England this year were produced by queens that overwintered. More detailed analysis will be done over winter to assess this.</p><p> </p><p>Raising awareness is a key aspect of the response. We ask anyone who thinks they may have spotted an Asian hornet to report it through the Asian hornet app or online. By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 15/09/2023 12:16:11 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name 2023-01-03_Asian_hornet_contingency_plan_Public_version_English-AC (1).pdf title Asian hornet contingency plan
tabling member	924 label Biography information for Lord Moynihan

1658444

registered interest
date	05/09/2023
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	Hornets
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the danger of Asian hornets becoming established in England; and what steps they are taking, if any, in response.
tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
uin	HL9880
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2023 answer text <p>In 2011, the GB Non-Native Invasive Species Team conducted a pest risk assessment (copy attached) to assess the dangers of Asian hornets establishing in the UK, following the spread of Asian hornet across Europe and the associated impacts reported on pollinators. The risk of the pest entering the UK and establishing was assessed as very likely and it was suggested that the impacts on honey bees and wild pollinators could be significant.</p><p> </p><p>Following this assessment Defra and the Welsh Government developed the Asian hornet contingency plan (copy attached) which outlines what actions will be taken when incursions occur. This Plan has been regularly updated with the most recent version published in January 2023.</p><p> </p><p>We have taken contingency action against all credible sightings of Asian hornet that have been reported in the UK since the first occurrence in 2016. Contingency action is delivered on the ground by the National Bee Unit (NBU) – part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency. As of 6<sup>th</sup> September 2023, the NBU have located 37 Asian hornet nests which have been destroyed.</p><p> </p><p>Genetic analyses of hornet and nest samples are done to determine relatedness and assess whether Asian hornets are established in England. Evidence from previous years suggested that all 13 Asian hornet nests found in the UK between 2016 and 2022 were separate incursions and there is nothing to suggest that Asian hornets are established in the UK. We have not seen any evidence which demonstrates that Asian hornets discovered in England this year were produced by queens that overwintered. More detailed analysis will be done over winter to assess this.</p><p> </p><p>Raising awareness is a key aspect of the response. We ask anyone who thinks they may have spotted an Asian hornet to report it through the Asian hornet app or online. By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name 2023-01-03_Asian_hornet_contingency_plan_Public_version_English-AC.pdf title pet risk assessment 2 file name RA_Vespa_velutina_Asian_Hornet.pdf title Asian Hornet contingency plan question first answered 15/09/2023 12:14:47 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

1656982

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
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	Hornets
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 steps she is taking to encourage people to report sightings of Asian Hornets to her Department.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	196628
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>Any credible sightings of Asian hornet are treated extremely seriously as it is an invasive species that is a serious predator of honey bees and other pollinating insects. This year we have seen an increased number of sightings when compared to previous years, so accurate and timely reporting by members of the public is essential in allowing us to continue to respond effectively.</p><p> </p><p>To make reporting easier for members of the public, Defra promotes the use of the ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ app which is managed, on our behalf, by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH). The app allows people to send a picture and location of the sighting. This is essential for determining whether it is a credible sighting. In addition, the app is continually being developed with more pictures added recently of other insects with similar appearances, which helps tackle misidentification. Although the app is the preferred method of reporting, people can also report sightings using the UKCEH webpage and via email.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, to enable accurate identification of Asian hornets we have published information on how to spot the insect on BeeBase – the website run by the National Bee Unit, part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency. The information is constantly being updated and incorporated into training material which is shared with beekeepers and members of the public.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, the National Bee Unit regularly undertakes training events, publishes regular articles in hobbyist publications and features in academic journals, all of which are often used as opportunities to promote reporting of Asian hornet.</p><p> </p><p>Defra works in collaboration with a range of stakeholders, with interests in bee health and invasive non-native species, to help raise awareness of the importance of reporting Asian hornet sightings. Last week, the National Bee Unit released communications as part of the British Beekeepers Association’s annual <a href="https://www.bbka.org.uk/asian-hornet-week" target="_blank">Asian Hornet Week</a>, which aims to increase awareness of the threat posed by Asian hornet to honey bees and other pollinating insects, and to encourage reporting of suspected sightings.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 11/09/2023 13:50:48 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight