Bees: Public Consultation

Norman Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to consult beekeepers and other bee enthusiasts on the development of his Department's national bee health strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy
The 'Healthy Bees' plan was developed with beekeeping associations and other interested parties and was launched on 9 March. Strengthened partnership working between these parties is vital to the success of the plan. My officials will therefore shortly be discussing the implementation of the plan with key beekeeping representatives in order to secure a sustainable way forward.

DEFRA has allocated new resources for the bee health programme to fund the implementation of the plan. On top of its current £1.3 million, an additional £1.137 million will be provided to the National Bee Unit in the financial year 2009-10 and £1.158 million in 2010-11 to implement the first stage of the plan.