Early Day Motion 1520
Published May 9, 2008
That this House notes the vital role that honey bees play in the pollinating of plants for food and other crops; recognises that honey bees make the substantial contribution of £165 million annually to the agricultural economy, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); acknowledges the potential impact a decline in honey bee populations would have on our environment and our diet; understands that the emergence of colony collapse disorder poses a significant threat to Britain's honey bee populations; further understands that a decline in the number of honey bees would not only threaten food crops but also every type of flora; further notes the concerns of many beekeepers that the Varroa Mite is becoming increasingly resistant to attempts to control it; congratulates the British Beekeepers' Association for the work it does and for the research programme it has recommended to DEFRA; and calls on the Government urgently to review the current arrangements for research into bee health.
BBKA Members see Tool-Kit for draft letter to MPs to sign-up to Early Day Motion 1520 of 8 May 08.
More from Current News
Countryfile (BBC1) has a photographic competition with the theme "aminals in action" - so this includes bees.
The Food Standards Agency has recently revised its guidance document for some aspects of food labelling such as "Pure, Fresh, Natural".
Just ten weeks into the campaign pressure is building on a number of fronts and a great deal is happening where it counts, at grass roots level.
Mike Harris takes up his appointment as General Secretary of the BBKA on 1st July 2008.
Bumble Bee Conservation Trust as part of their work they are helping a Ph D. research student, Gillian Lye (Stirling Univ.)
Comments
2 comment(s) on this page. Add your own comment below.
This is to register my deep concern that sufficient funding is not available from DEFRA to maintain the level of research needed into the welfare and health of British bee colonies. It is not only plants and animals which are at risk of losing out, but ipso facto mankind as well.
I believe that, following the serious problems currently being experienced by bee farmers in the USA, that DeFRA take a proactive stance to research and give sound advice to our agriculture industry before we suffer a terminal problem that cannot be remedied. This EDM will give a clear indication of the motives and green credentials of our Government.