asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are increasing their research programme into honeybee diseases in the light of the state of the bee population. [HL4627]

An additional £90,000 has been allocated to the National Bee Unit this financial year to expand investigations started last year under a horizon scanning project into significant colony losses and to meet the demand for increased inspections of bee imports consequential to the colony losses.

Research priorities are addressed in the draft Bee Health Strategy, which has recently been published for public consultation. Commissioned research in later years will be considered in the light of priorities identified in the agreed strategy and the resources available from Defra and elsewhere.