Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment on the potential merits of promoting the import of honey from the Pitcairn Islands.

Pitcairn's disease free bee population has resulted in the production of high quality honey which is exported across the globe. While no recent assessment of promoting this excellent local produce has taken place, the Government did fund an apiculture programme for Pitcairn in 1998 which included an analysis of the bees and honey production. In addition, part of an ongoing Defra-funded Darwin Plus project is advising the Pitcairn Government on improving biosecurity to reduce the risk of invasive species impacting honey production. The UK remains committed to supporting the people of the Pitcairn Islands and maximising opportunities for economic development. The FCDO funds the shipping service, which allows access to Pitcairn Islands and for goods to be exported.