§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many beekeepers were known to the National Bee Unit in(a) Essex and (b) England in each of the last four years. [42376]
§ Mr. MorleyThe number of beekeepers in Essex and England identified on the National Bee Unit's (NBU) database in each of the last four years is as follows.
274W
Essex England 1998 824 19,346 1999 832 19,607 2000 787 19,068 2001 540 17,884 The database is used to maintain records of statutory inspection programmes. It is not a definitive register of beekeepers.