BEE HEALTH RESEARCH

That this House notes the vital role that honey bees play in the pollination of plants for food and other crops; recognises that honey bees make the substantial contribution of £165 million annually to the agricultural economy, according to estimates by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); acknowledges the potential impact that a decline in honey bee populations would have on our environment and our diet; understands that the emergence of colony collapse disorder poses a significant threat to the UK's honey bee populations; further understands that a decline in the number of honey bees would not only threaten food crops but also every type of flora; further notes the concerns of many beekeepers that the varroa mite is becoming increasingly resistant to attempts to control it; congratulates the British Beekeepers' Association for the work it does and for the research programme it has recommended to DEFRA; and calls on the Government to prioritise research into bee health.