Oral Answers to Questions

Rebecca Pow Excerpts
Thursday 18th June 2015

(9 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Eustice Portrait George Eustice
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I entirely agree, and the national pollinator strategy refers to the importance of providing better habitats for bees in urban areas. I can inform the House that there is even a beehive on the roof of the DEFRA building.

Rebecca Pow Portrait Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)
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I welcome the pollinator strategy, but yesterday I was contacted by a large number of people who were effectively lobbying. Will the Minister assure us that he will look at all the evidence, in order to ensure not just that the wonderful bees are protected, but that our farmers can farm economically and produce healthy food?

George Eustice Portrait George Eustice
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Many of my hon. Friend’s constituents have contacted me as well, and I know that there is a great deal of concern about the issue. There is a gap here: we do need more field trials. The United Kingdom has commissioned some work of that kind, as have other European Union member states including Sweden.