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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect and support the populations of (a) bees and (b) other pollinators.

Protecting our pollinators is a priority for this Government. They are an essential part of our environment and play a crucial role in food production. Our National Pollinator Strategy highlights the vital contribution we can all make to support pollinators.

The Strategy is a shared plan between Government and stakeholders, and builds on policies which support pollinators, including habitat creation, species conservation and honey bee health.

The Strategy includes actions to protect pollinators in the countryside including on farmland, as well as in towns and cities, and to strengthen the response to pests and disease risk. Earlier in the year, Bees’ Needs week called for everyone, from window box gardeners to farmers, to take action to protect pollinators. Further details are available from www.gov.uk/government/news/bees-needs-food-and-a-home.

Defra supports the honey bee population through its Bee Health programme, delivered for England and Wales by the National Bee Unit. The programme aims to protect honey bees from pests and diseases, including tackling disease outbreaks and monitoring for exotic pests, including the Asian hornet. Inspectors carry out a total of over 6,000 apiary inspections each year during which free training is provided to beekeepers on how to keep their bees healthy.