Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) impact of the use of thiamethoxam on the UK’s bee population and (b) potential merits of banning the use of thiamethoxam.

Risks to bees were assessed as part of the process for considering whether to allow the use of Cruiser SB on sugar beet crops this year. The main area in which potential concerns were flagged was the risk to bees from thiamethoxam taken up by crops planted in the same field after treated sugar beet. For this reason, a restriction has been imposed on such crops which will significantly reduce that risk. Only a specific list of crops, none of which flower before harvest, are permitted to be planted within 32 months of treated sugar beet. This is one of a number of strict conditions designed to mitigate any impact of the treatment on bees and other wildlife.

The Government continues to support the existing restrictions on neonicotinoids.  We will continue to ensure that decisions on the use of pesticides are based on careful scientific assessment of the risks, with the aim of achieving a high level of protection for people and the environment.