Martin Caton, MP for The Gower is the Primary Sponsor for the Early Day Motion 1267 IMPACT OF NEONICOTINOID PESTICIDES ON BEES AND OTHER INVERTEBRATES 13.01.2011.  I emailed Stephen Crabb MP about this asking for his support for this.

I am pleased to share his reponse which read:

“Dear John,

Thank you for your email of 22nd January regarding neonicotinoid pesticides. I very much share your concern about the decline of pollinators in the UK. As someone who lives next door to one of Pembrokeshire’s largest honey producers, I am a strong supporter of the honeybee and I have already written to Lord Henley, Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, about neonicotinoid pesticides.

I have also discussed this issue with colleagues in the House of Commons. I have been informed that Ministers are aware of concerns about this matter. My colleagues have been seeking scientific advice, including views of the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides, on the Buglife report ‘The impact of neonicotinoid insecticides on bumblebees, honeybees and other non-target invertebrates (2009)’ issued last year. This report highlighted the need for data on the impact of pesticides on overwintering of bees. This is an area where regulatory science is continuing to develop and the problem is being addressed by changes to the EU regulatory system. On the basis of current evidence there is no justification for altering data requirements in the UK in advance of these changes.

In the UK the pesticides regulatory body, the Health and Safety Executive’s Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD), has also been in discussions with other EU regulatory authorities who have chosen to impose restrictions on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. At a recent meeting, no new scientific evidence was presented to suggest a need for changes to current UK pesticide authorisations at the present time. That said, CRD would act on any substantive evidence should incidents occur in the UK and will continue to monitor research and developments in other EU member states.

As you may be aware, I was recently appointed to the Coalition Government. As a Government Minister, I am not able to add my name to Early Day Motions (EDMs) as the purpose of an EDM is to call on the Government to take action.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like any further information on this matter. I would also like to congratulate you and the Pembrokeshire Beekeepers’ Association for all the important work you do to support and encourage beekeeping in Pembrokeshire.

Kind regards,

Stephen

Stephen Crabb MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA”