§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what European Commission proposals are currently under discussion in respect of bee health; what estimate he has made of their cost to the British Government; and in what respects they differ from measures already taken on a national level. [6090]
§ Mr. RookerThe Commission proposal for a regulation concerning the production and marketing of honey was adopted at the Council of Ministers meeting of 23–25 June. The regulation's main aim is to assist the beekeeping sector in dealing with the burden of the bee disease varroa.
The programme will cost 15 mecu annually from 1998 (£10.81 million using the June 1997 exchange rate of 1 ecu = £0.7208). The gross United Kingdom contribution to this new expenditure would be 2.2 mecu (£1.6 million). However, the regulation will involve 50 per cent. reimbursement of eligible items of expenditure made under approved programmes. There could thus be some receipts from the Commission under the bee programme to set against the expenditure, but no final decision has yet been taken. At present we spend £1.5 million annually on bee health measures, some of which would be eligible for reimbursement.