§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 13 April,Official Report, column 156, in respect of how many of the 132 incidents of honey bee poisoning in England and Wales arising from the misuse of pesticides, offenders have been detected and prosecuted, and how many of the honey bee owners have sought compensation for the damage to their bees and produce.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 21 April 1988]: While our investigation arrangements are able to determine pathological effect and its causes, they do not directly establish whether a case arose through pesticide misuse or whether an offence has been committed under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. No prosecutions have taken place to date relating to the poisoning of honey bees.
I am unable to say how many of the honey bees' owners have sought compensation for the damage to their bees and produce, since such action falls within the province of the civil law.