§ 83. Mr. Smithersasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether he is aware of the serious outbreak of European foul brood in the County of Hampshire and elsewhere; and what action he proposes to take and 71W what advice he is offering to district bee keepers associations in order to protect existing healthy stocks of bees.
§ Mr. GodberEuropean foul brood disease has been endemic in parts of Hampshire and adjoining counties for many years but it has not increased in severity. Apiaries in these counties and in the rest of England and Wales are subject to inspection under the Foul Brood Disease of Bees Order, 1957, and diseased colonies are destroyed. Thease measures have prevented the spread of the disease, apart from occasional sporadic outbreaks, usually to be traced to infection from the areas mentioned. My right hon. Friend hopes that they will lead to the gradual reduction of the areas in which the disease is endemic, and eventually to the eradication of the disease. Any beekeeper having reason to suspect that the disease may be present in his apiary should get in touch promptly with one of our local officers, when expert inspection and advice will be provided.