§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to change the statutory infected area for varroa; and if he will make a statement. [15424]
§ Mr. BoswellThe autumn varroa searched last year revealed a significant number of cases outside the statutory infected area. Having now considered the views of the national beekeeping organisations, and those of the many local associations and individual beekeepers who have written to me and to the Welsh Office, we have agreed from today to extend the boundary of the statutory infected area to include the four English counties of Cheshire, Cleveland, Durham and Merseyside and the whole of Wales.