Countryside Alliance - love the countryside

On Monday 11th January the Children, School and Families Bill received its Second Reading in Parliament. The Bill seeks to bring into law the recommendations of two independent reviews on reforming the primary curriculum and making Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education statutory. We believe the countryside is a powerful medium in which to deliver major components of PSHE, such as healthy living, physical competence and performance, managing risk and developing self awareness and advocate that within the Children, Schools and Families Bill there should be an entitlement to outdoor education within the curriculum. All MPs were briefed for this debate; please click here to read our brief (pdf)

The consultation looks at the definition of coastal land and changes in respect of coastal land which it is proposed to make to the CROW Act. This includes definitions of land types, extent and scope of the route and associated “spreading room”, excepted land and dogs. The consultation was launched on 8 September 2009 and closed on 1 December 2009.

Read our Response on this link

The Welsh Assembly Government's consultation reviewing the general licences in Wales was launched on 1 September 2009 and closed on 24 November 2009. All Welsh general licences will be renewed without change on 1 January 2010, and will be valid for a 6 month period. Decisions on any changes to the licences in the light of the consultation  are expected in Spring 2010.

Read our Response on this link

On 24 November 2009 DEFRA published its consultation on the draft on the welfare of gamebirds, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The draft code is the result of several years work by the DEFRA working group, which included the Alliance, vets, game farmers, the League Against Cruel Sports and RSPCA amongst others. The final code is expected to come into force in April 2010. The draft code reflects the results and findings of research undertaken by the Game and Wildlife Conservancy Trust and the Farm Animal Welfare Council, at the request of DEFRA. On the outstanding area of controversy, concerning the use of raised laying units the consultation provides three options: (1) doing nothing; (2) requiring all raised units to be enriched whilst banning barren cages; or (3) banning cages altogether including traditional partridge boxes. The Alliance has always believed that the code should be based on the best evidence and research available and as such will be supporting option 2 which reflects the recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council. Option 3 would have serious implications for game farming in the UK and would simply benefit game farmers abroad. The consultation closes on 18 January 2010.

Read our Response on this link

The Bill was introduced on Thursday 19 November and a brief was circulated prior to its Second Reading debate on Monday 7 December.

Read our Response on this link