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 his Department has had with (a) British Sugar and (b) the National Farmers Union on emergency authorisation of the thiamethoxam containing neonicotinoid Cruiser SB on sugar beet.

Defra regularly meets with both British Sugar and the National Farmers Union to discuss a range of topics such as crop development, harvest, trade and pest and disease pressures and progress in research and stewardship programmes.

All applications for emergency authorisation are assessed according to the legal requirements and on the basis of the evidence.