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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the National Farmers Union on the potential increase in the number of slugs as a result of ban on the use of neonicotinoids; and if he will make a statement.

Ministers have not discussed the issue of a potential increase in the number of slugs with the National Farmers Union.

From 19 December use of the three neonicotinoids clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam will be restricted to greenhouse crops only. The Government supported these restrictions in the light of growing evidence that these pesticides can harm pollinators.