Bees

Many of you have contacted me to express your concerns about neonicotinoid pesticides and their impact on the health and population of British bees.

I agree with you about the importance of bees and other pollinating insects to our food supply and economy. The bee population has fallen dramatically in recent years with a growing body of evidence pointing to neonicotinoid pesticides as a key cause of this trend.

I share your concerns on this issue and I agree that urgent action must be taken to combat the decline of bees and other pollinating insects.

I have immediately written to Lord de Mauley, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Resource Management at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to express your concerns and seek clarification on what the Government is doing on this issue.

I will of course update this section of my website when I receive a response from the Minister.