§ 2. Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will prohibit the movement of bees in and out of the New Forest and make a stand-still order to cover a district of a radius of five miles round any infected apiary, in view of the spread of European foul brood from the New Forest and surrounding districts; and what representations he has received on this matter from the Wiltshire Beekeepers' Association.
The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. V. M. F. Vane)I have no reason to think that an extension of the present arrangements for controlling the movement of bees, that is to say movement of hives, when European Foul Brood disease is discovered, would be effective enough to justify the hardship which it would cause. There is in any case no evidence that the New Forest area is now a serious source of infection. On the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend has received a resolution from the Wiltshire Bee-keepers' Association in the same terms as the hon. Member's Question.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI am grateful for that reply, and would be more grateful if the Minister would keep closely in touch with bee-keeping organisations like the Wiltshire body from which he has received representations from time to time.