Dying bees 'were not a priority' - BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics |
source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7951009.stm
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A top civil servant has admitted research into bee disease has not been a "top priority" despite mounting concern about declining populations.
But Dame Helen Ghosh, of the environment food and rural affairs department, said more money was now being ploughed into solving the crisis.
The registered bee population in the UK has shrunk by between 10% and 15% but the real number may be much higher.
There are fears a Europe-wide shortage of bees could affect crop pollination.
But Dame Helen, who was giving evidence to the Commons Public Accounts Committee, played down fears food production could be affected, arguing bees were "one of many" crop pollinators.
But Dame Helen Ghosh, of the environment food and rural affairs department, said more money was now being ploughed into solving the crisis.
The registered bee population in the UK has shrunk by between 10% and 15% but the real number may be much higher.
There are fears a Europe-wide shortage of bees could affect crop pollination.
But Dame Helen, who was giving evidence to the Commons Public Accounts Committee, played down fears food production could be affected, arguing bees were "one of many" crop pollinators.
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- Bees
