​Local MSP Stung by Pupils’ Bee Campaign

Today, Wednesday 20 January 2016, Colin Beattie MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh thanked primary five pupils from Lasswade Primary School for sending him their pictures and letters highlighting the dangers of pesticides on bee populations. Their words and drawings sent a very concerned message about the harmful impact these chemicals have to the food chain as a whole. While looking over the collection, Mr. Beattie said;

“I’m very grateful to receive the children’s work. These illustrations and letters demonstrate the issues we are facing on a global, environmental level, and I am happy to see that children are becoming involved in conversations about saving our planet.”

After writing back to the children he mentioned, “I encouraged them to take part in bee friendly environments, such as the one at Parliament. The Scottish Parliament is the first legislature in the United Kingdom to install beehives in order to combat the declining bee population and regularly supports the beehives during the summer.”

He was also glad to see that action to save the bees has been taken to a higher level, and as of 1st December 2013, the use of three key neonicotinoid insecticides have been banned by the European Union. He finished by stating;

“I look forward to seeing the results and advice that come from the continuous research done by the European Union on the impact of these chemicals. With this said, the Scottish government will not support any relaxation of restrictions unless there is clear and substantive evidence that these neonicotinoids do not pose a threat to bees.”