UK BEE HEALTH

That this House recognises the importance of the UK bee population, responsible for pollinating 70 per cent. of the food eaten in the UK and valued commercially at approximately £165 million by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; expresses concern at the threat posed by an increase in reported cases of colony collapse disorder and resistance to the chemical treatment for the varroa destructor mite; is deeply concerned that since the winter of 2007 there has been a 30 per cent. reduction in the bee population; is dismayed that the budget for commissioned bee health research and development is lower in real terms now than in 2001 despite the risk to the bee industry increasing; and calls on the Government to provide more funding for research into ways of combating the threats to British hives.