Done

Our local assembly member rocks, reckon he might just give them a call..

Done

My Dad is a avid beekeep and my Grandfather kept bees before that.

Here is some extra if you want to add to the pre-written bit

Bees are important pollinators and reseach collated in 2007 by The National Audit Office estimated the value of the bees' services at £200m a year. The retail value of what they pollinate was valued closer to £1bn. These figures are now 6 years out of date so these figures will have only gobe up.

Beekeepers have been struggling over the last decade with many dieases threatening the survival of bees, these include Varroa mites, American Foul Brood, colony collapse and nosema ceranae.

A ban on pesticdes killing bees may just reverse the decline and allow the UK population of bees to recover.

Posted By: bella.................. So called nicotinic insecticides induce paralysis by blocking the action of the chemical (proper name acetyl choline) released from the nerve endings in muscle inducing paralysis.

Closely related and very similar effect to military nerve agents. But this would be harmless to humans wouldn't it.

Done, 1 minute including adding a bit to the standard letter. Thanks James for raising the topic.

Done.

Politicians get it wrong again?
http://www.scotsman.com/business/food-drink-and-agriculture/eu-holds-fire-on-pesticide-ban-over-bees-1-2840326

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/mar/15/bee-harming-pesticides-escape-european-ban

Politicians are basically venal with no foresight beyond the next election. The industry is playing the 'no causal link' line just like they did with asbestos, tobacco, nitrogen loading, compound gas emissions, particulate emissions etc etc.

My better-half's dad is a beekeeper of long standing in S England. Without bees he reckons between 1/3 and 1/2 of our pollinated plants will die out, eg food crops for us and livestock!
It is not rocket-science.....

Bit late to the party - but just to say that the Soil Association has organised its own campaign - 'Keep Britain Buzzing' - to raise awareness of the dangers of neocotinoids - which have been banned in many countries. Their site is www.soilassociation.org and there is an ongoing campaign right now.

To paraphrase that feisty Swansea girl (when the Minister for War had consorted with the same girl as the Russian Attache but denied it in court) "they would say that wouldn't they". And they always, always do. Read "Merchants of Doubt". By the way, note that subtle "neo" infront of "nicotinoid". Needless to say I didn't get a response from my MP. Did anyone?

Fiona Mactaggart MP for Slough , got back to me with a positive supportive response and attached Gov. press release as Fred describes above.

Mine too.

Chatted to my neighbour the other day a serious beekeeper, who informs me that the BBKA are against a ban on neonics. They tend to favour a wait and see, more research, approach. His take, presumably as a result of local association discussions is that the ban neonic stance flawed, and apparently largely based on one unfortunate incident in France where a farmer inadvertantly applied too much neonic seed dressing resulting in wind borne dispersal which did indeed kill bees and other pollinators but you can't base a banning policy on that type of incident. The BBKA also seem to be saying that the most widely used method of neonic application is as a seed dressing which is mostly used at a time when bees are dormant. They also apparently are very wary of a ban on the basis of what will replace neonics should a ban be effective. So the questions I ask are:-

1. Is the BBKA still receiving funds from Bayer, this potentially may influence their thinking?
2. Are the historical facts correct and if so why do other EU countries seem to be more cautious than our own.
3. Neonics are systemic, and I'm guessing that's how they are effective against sap suckers, aphids and the like. But if they are systemic then presumably they find their way into pollen and nectar and ultimately honey. Is anyone testing honey?
4. Neonicotinides have been used for 20 years or so, apparently widely used in Australia with no ill effect on their bee population, could other bee population decline factors be at work, e.g. farming practices, or atmospheric pollution.
5. Because they are predominantly a seed dressing do neonics remain in the soil and therfore is their polluting effect cumulative and does it get into the water courses, is anyone testing?

There has been studies on the accumulation of systemic insecticides in pollen and nectar and studies on the effect of ingestion at environmentally realistic levels. The effects on fecundity are significant. I have not read studies on other effects but will as I get time.
Example,
Layock et al, (2012), Effects of imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide, on reproduction in worker bumble bees. Ecotoxicology; Oct 2012, Vol. 21 Issue 7, p1937-1945

Also, yes systemic insecticides do trans-locate to pollen and nectar, see also

Stoner and Eitzer (2012), Movement of soil-applied imidacloprid and thiamethoxam into nectar and pollen of squash, Plos One [PLoS One] 2012; Vol. 7 (6), pp. e39114

Have done the petition.