§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of bee officers employed by his Ministry for each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe number of bees officers employed by the Ministry in both 1988 and 1989 was 35. In order to make the most effective use of resources inspection of bees is concentrated on those colonies where foul brood is suspected or which have a recent history of the disease.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to control varroasis in honey bees; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerAt present the Importation of Bees Order 1980 prohibits imports of all bees of the genus Apis (honey bees), except under licence from countries of high bee health status which are free from varroasis. It remains our aim to keep this country free of varroasis. The European Community Commission has proposed that after 1992 national measures on animal health, including bee health should be replaced by European Community controls. Discussions are still at an early stage and we shall continue to press for the best possible safeguards.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has plans to include Apis Bombus in the Bee Control Order 1980; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerI have at present no plans to extend the powers under the Bees Act 1980 to exclude importation of bees of the genus Bombus (bumble bees). However, I am keeping this issue under careful review and would be prepared to consider action to control the importation of bumble bees should there be evidence that their importation poses a risk to the health of United Kingdom honey bees.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which of his Ministry's offices his bee officers are located; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerIn 1989 bees officers were located in Ministry offices as follows:
88W
Officers Soulh-East Guildford 4 Oxford 1 Maidstone 2 Eastern Chelmsford 3 Huntingdon 2
Officers Lincoln 1 Norwich 2 Northern Beverley 2 Carlisle 1 Newcastle 2 Northallerton 1 Midlands and Western Crewe 1 Nottingham 1 Preston 1 Worcester 2 South Western Exeter 2 Gloucester 2 Taunton 4 Truro 1 Total 35 This wide distribution ensures that all parts of the country are covered in cases of actual or suspected outbreaks of foul brood.