§ Sir W. ESSEXasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board have yet discovered any cure for Isle-of-Wight disease in bees or whether their experiments have indicated any means for mitigating the virulence of this pest; and are there any signs other than depletion of stocks of bees in the country that the disease is showing signs of abatement?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe Board are testing a method of dealing with the disease, and the results are promising; but a final opinion cannot yet be expressed. There is no evidence, unfortunately, that the virulence of the disease is abating.
§ Sir W. ESSEXasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the disadvantages under which in many districts of the country fruit growers are under owing to the destruction of many thousands of stocks of bees, his Board are proposing to confer with bee-keeping associations or other persons or bodies interested with a view to reintroduce legislative proposals to combat and control the vast ravages of this pest?
§ Mr. ACLANDAs it is considered impracticable during the War to deal effectively with this disease by means of legislation, the Board are of opinion that no useful purpose would at present be served by a conference such as my hon. Friend suggests. But I shall be happy to bear his suggestion in mind.