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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect (a) bees, (b) moths and (c) other animals from (i) habitat loss and (ii) toxic neonicotinoid pesticides.

Our National Pollinator Strategy highlights the vital contribution we can all make to support pollinators by ensuring they have suitable food and habitats.

The Strategy includes actions to improve the status of our insect pollinators, of which there are 1500 species in the UK. Many of the actions aim to reverse the loss of flower-rich habitat, one of the biggest sources of pollinator decline in England. Habitat creation actions in the Strategy also benefit other animals, including birds and bats.

All pesticides, including neonicotinoids, are strictly regulated and are only authorised if scientific assessment finds that their use is not expected to have harmful effects on human health or to have unacceptable effects on the environment.