§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that heavy losses of bees are still occurring in the South of 273W England due to the indiscriminate spraying of crops from the air and ground; and if he will introduce legislation to control such acts and to provide for compensation to be paid for bee keepers and others adversely affected.
§ Mr. StrangMy officials are investigating a number of reported incidents where loss of bees in this area has been attributed to spraying. They are working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for regulating aerial spraying operations. My Department introduced new Regulations, which took effect on 1st April, to strengthen the health and safety provisions concerned with ground operations and we do not envisage separate statutory measures covering hazards to bees. Instead, we have acted upon helpful suggestions put forward by the national bee keeping organisations when they met my hon. Friend the Minister of State last September—and for further details I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 11th June 1975—[Vol. 893, c.189]. Claims for compensation are normally resolved by negotiation between the parties concerned, but can be subject to Common Law proceedings if this proves necessary.