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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to make a decision on the application from British Sugar for emergency authorisation for the use of neonicotinoid thiamethoxam on sugar beet.

We are considering the emergency authorisation application made by British Sugar for the use of Cruiser SB (containing thiamethoxam) on sugar beet and the related evidence. A decision is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.