The Rt Hon. Frank Cook MP,
House of Commons,
London.
SW1A 0AA
3rd November 2004
Dear Sir,
Her Majesty's Government has recently announced it's intention to cut the support to the National Beekeeping Unit (NBU), based in York, from the current £1.25 million to just £1 million, a cut of £250,000 or 20%. Such a cut in funding will inevitably lead to a reduction in the number of NBU Inspectors, the front line staff working for the Unit.
There is thus a serious risk of the decimation of the UK Honeybee population and the consequential loss of the contribution these insects make to agriculture and horticulture through their pollination activities. The honeybee carries out some 85/90% of the pollination 'service' necessary within the UK. Since the arrival of the Varroa Mite in this country in 1992 the majority of wild honeybee colonies have been wiped out. The pollination service provided by the honeybee is therefore almost wholly dependant upon the bees managed by small-scale beekeepers, many of whom will inevitably give up beekeeping because they will not have access to local professional support if their bees become sick.
The National Bee Unit of DEFRA has successfully helped some 30,000 beekeepers in England for many years. 95% of the beekeepers operate on a small scale and the NBU Inspectors form the first line of enquiry when disease or similar problems are encountered. In the next few years it is inevitable that other exotic pests, already found in the USA and Europe will find their way to our shores. Some of these are potentially even more damaging to our honeybees. The NBU with its research facilities and its countrywide teams of Inspectors is a positive help in the early diagnosis of and defence against these potential problems.
It seems incredible that for the paltry sum of £250,000 the future of the NBU, the future of the honeybee stock of this country and the pollination service provided by them should be put at risk.
I appeal to you, on behalf of the beekeepers of Cleveland and those countrywide, to do all you can to reverse this proposal before it is too late.
Yours faithfully,
Bryan Hateley.
Technical Officer,
Cleveland Beekeeper's Association