Consultations

Homepage > Consultations > Index page for this consultation > Letter to consultees

Consultation on a draft strategy on protecting and improving the health of honey bees in England and Wales

Plant Health Division
Foss House
York Y01 7PX
Telephone 01904 455186
Website: www.defra.gov.uk
Email: beehealth-strategy@defra.gsi.gov.uk

 8 April 2008

Dear Consultee,

Consultation on a draft strategy on protecting and improving the health of honey bees in England and Wales

  1. I am writing to seek your views on this draft strategy. In particular, we would welcome your views on:
    • the strategy’s aim and desired outcomes;
    • the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders; and,
    • activities and initiatives that we propose to undertake with other stakeholders towards the desired outcomes.
  2. The consultation is for all beekeepers in England and Wales, their suppliers and customers, beekeeping associations and those who benefit from honey bee pollination services. Conservation bodies and the general public should also have an interest.
  3. The draft strategy is the result of a series of informal discussions and consultations with beekeeping associations and other stakeholders.  We now want to hear from a wider range of people, particularly individual beekeepers (especially those who will not make their views know through a local association) to make sure that the strategy represents accurately their priorities and needs.
  4. The following documents relating to the consultation may be found on Defra’s website: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/bee-health/index.htm

Responses

  1. Please send responses by 29 August 2008 to:
    beehealth-strategy@defra.gsi.gov.uk
    Or by post to:
    Bee Health Strategy Consultation
    Defra Plant Health Division
    Foss House
    1-2 Peasholme Green
    York YO1 7PX
  2. To help you, we have produced a list of questions (see separate response form). You may wish to use this as the basis of your response, or you may wish to bear the questions in mind when responding.  Your responses will be used to refine further and develop our plans and proposals for inclusion in the published strategy .

Confidentiality statement

  1. In line with Defra and WAG’s policy of openness, at the end of the consultation period copies of the responses we receive may be made publicly available through the Defra Information Resource Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR. The information they contain may also be published in a summary of responses.
  2. If you do not consent to this, you must clearly request that your response be treated confidentially. Any confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system in e-mail responses will not be treated as such a request. You should also be aware that there may be circumstances in which Defra will be required to communicate information to third parties on request, in order to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations.
  3. The Information Resource Centre will supply copies of consultation responses to personal callers or in response to telephone or e-mail requests (tel: 020 7238 6575, e-mail: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk). Wherever possible, personal callers should give the library at least 24 hours' notice of their requirements. An administrative charge will be made to cover photocopying and postage costs.
  4. This consultation has been prepared in line with the Government code of practice which is available from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform at http://bre.berr.gov.uk/regulation/consultation/. The criteria for consultations are listed on this website.
  5. Comments or complaints about the consultation process (as opposed to comments about the issue which is the subject of consultation) should be addressed to:
    Marjorie Addo
    Defra’s Consultation Co-ordinator
    Area 7C
    Nobel House
    17 Smith Square
    London, SW1P 3JR
    Email: consultation.coordinator@defra.gsi.gov.uk
  6. Thank you for your help in this matter. If you have any queries please contact us as above.

Kim Chadwick
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Page published: 8 April 2008

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs