Local MP all abuzz about bees

9.52.44am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Jul 2009

Withington MP John Leech has this week been making moves in parliament to avert a honey bee health crisis.

In response to concerns that the common honey bee is facing health problems which may have serious consequences for crop pollination and biodiversity in the wider environment, Mr Leech has challenged the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about funding for research into the issue and has received assurances that funding is to be made available to help boost the bee population.

John Leech said:

"At first sight the health of the honey bee might not seem desperately important to many people, yet they are vital for the health of our ecosystems. The loss of the species would have dreadful knock-on effects - in purely economic terms for example the honey bee is estimated to contribute some £165m to the economy through its pollination of fruit and vegetables.

Mr Leech, who has also backed a motion in the Commons calling for further research into and funding for the issue added:

"I've been contacted by many constituents who share my concerns about this issue and I agree with them that the necessary funding to tackle the problem and protect our honey bees must be found. As flowering plants rely heavily on bees for their pollination and genetic diversity, problems among the bee population must be taken very seriously so I am pleased to have received assurances from the Minister that funding will be made available."

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Notes to editors

For a transcript of the Parliamentary Question on research into the health of the honey bee see: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090708/text/90708w0007.htm#09070885002211

John Leech has also signed Early Day Motion 1837:

SUSSEX PLAN FOR HONEY BEE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

08.07.2009

Farron, Timothy

That this House welcomes the extra £10 million investment from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and the Scottish Government for research and investigation into the decline in British honey bee and other insect pollinator numbers; believes that the severity of the immediate health problems facing honey bees demands that a significant proportion of this funding is allocated straight away to tackle honey bee population decline; gives its full backing to the Sussex Plan for Honey Bee Health and Well-being, which aims to breed disease-resistant hygienic honey bees, decode dances to determine where worker honey bees are foraging, test and develop European and North American Varroa control methods under British conditions, and monitor hives for pathogens and other causes of mortality; and calls on the Government to give a proportion of this additional funding to research into honey bee health, such as the Sussex Plan to help determine what is harming honey bees and how best to maintain the health and well being of the UK's most important pollinating animal.