Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Rejected
Paragraph: 73
Expand National Bee Unit remit to focus on wild bee health and hive impact guidance.
Recommendation
Defra should expand the remit of the National Bee Unit, to include a focus on wild bee health. This should include both developing internal expertise and fostering collaboration with entomology experts and producing biennial reports, as part of the National Pollinator Strategy update previously recommended in this report. The Unit should also produce guidance to keepers about the potential impacts of over densification of hives on wild pollinator species.
Government Response Summary
The government rejects expanding the National Bee Unit's remit to include wild bee health, stating it would require significant legislative changes as the NBU's statutory role is specific to honey bee diseases. However, it notes that the NBU published a map in 2023 allowing beekeepers to assess hive density, which partially addresses the request for guidance on over-densification.
Paragraph Reference:
73
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The National Bee Unit (NBU, part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency) includes 60 Bee Inspectors who deliver the Bee Health Programmes on behalf of Defra and wider government. Expanding the role of the NBU to include a focus on wild bee health would significantly widen the remit and require legislative changes. Bee Health Inspectors have specific responsibilities for the statutory control of notifiable diseases of honey bees which is covered in The Bees Act 1980, the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (England) Order 2006 and the Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Wales) Order 2006. Honey bees are defined as a minor food producing animal species so the principles and processes for controlling honey bee pests and diseases are similar to those used for other farmed animals. The NBU carry out surveillance, take contingency action against exotic threats and control pests and diseases. This is important for both reducing the spread to other honey bee colonies and wild pollinator species. The Pollinator Action Plan lists the actions that will be taken to deliver the National Pollinator Strategy. This includes an action for government and stakeholders to work in partnership to support both managed honey bee and wild pollinator health under the Healthy Bees Plan 2030 led by the NBU. The density of honey bee hives has long been a concern for both beekeepers and people who want to conserve wild pollinator species. Beekeepers fear that other beekeepers who introduce new hives into the locality will reduce the amount of forage available and lead to pest and disease spread. Many beekeepers appreciate that there should be sufficient forage available in an area for all pollinators. It is important for beekeepers to evaluate the local density of honey bee hives, wild pollinators present and forage availability before putting new hives in an area. However it can be difficult to find information which is up to date and specific enough to make such an assessment. In 2023 the NBU published a map on BeeBase which provides a heat map of hive density within 10 km squares. This allows beekeepers to assess the number of hives in an area. Some beekeeping groups also encourage beekeepers to be mindful of other hives when considering apiary sites, and also raise awareness of competition with other hives and wild pollinators.