§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many queen bees (a) of the Brother Adam type, and (b) other types have been imported into Northern Ireland (i) from Israel, and (ii) from elsewhere, by country in the past 12 months; what health checks are carried out on the importation of such bees; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what controls are placed on the subsequent movement into Great Britain of bees from outside the United Kingdom imported into Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Butler[pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1984, c. 135]: The number of queen bees imported into Northern Ireland in 1983 was 1,444, 1,434 of which came, from Israel, 10 from the United States of Ameria; separate records are not kept as to their types.
Under the Importation of Bees (Northern Ireland) Order 1980, imports are restricted to queen bees — with necessary attendant workers — from countries with a high bee health status and are subject to licences which are issued to individual importers for a particular consignment or consignments from a specified country; licences are not issued for imports from countries where the varroa mite had been found. A health certificate is required for each consignment and it is a condition of the licence that attendant worker bees are sent immediately to a Government laboratory for microscopic examination for disease.
The bee health status of Northern Ireland is similar to that of Great Britain and there are no special conditions attached to the subsequent movement of legally imported bees, which is permitted by general licences; however, importers are required to keep a record of where imported bees are sent.