§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which areas of the country are currently assessed as being infected with varroa jacobsoni. [3597]
§ Mr. BoswellThe areas currently within the statutory infected area include all of Wales and England up to but not including the following counties: Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. During the recent search, outbreaks have also been discovered in Cumbria and Greater Manchester, but no decision has yet been taken on any changes to the extent of the SIA.
§ Mr. BanksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to offer subsides to beekeepers to assist with the diagnosis and control of varroa mites on bees. [3594]
§ Mr. BoswellThe Ministry already provides a free testing and diagnosis service for varroa. The cost of treatment is borne by beekeepers.
§ Mr. BanksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of varroasis have been reported to his Department in each year since April 1992. [3595]
§ Mr. BoswellThe annual numbers of varroa positive apiaries reported to the Ministry since April 1992 are as follows:
Year Number of cases 1992 305 1993 600 1994 610 1995 988 Up to and including September 1996 811 Cumulative total 3,314.