Each month the Political, Media and Campaigns teams of the Countryside Alliance and the devolved teams in Wales, Ireland and Scotland update the board on issues of interest and relevance. Read on for an update from the Countryside Alliance's busy teams on their work.
WESTMINSTER
Wild Animals in Circuses
A Backbench Business debate was held in the chamber of the House of Commons on 23 June 2011 which was well attended and created a huge amount of press interest. The Alliance did not comment on the issue directly but we are monitoring what arguments are used, and by whom, in terms of animal welfare and animal “rights”.
Scotland Bill
The Bill includes the devolution of control of airguns in line with the recommendation of the Calman Commission and as agreed in the Coalition Agreement. The Bill had its Remaining Stages in the Commons on 21 June. The Bill is due to have its Second Reading in the House of Lords on 8 September. We will be briefing interested peers ahead of Second Reading.
Fuel Poverty
Earl Cathcart has an oral question on the floor of the House on 13 July on fuel poverty and the adopting by energy companies of a rising block tariff system of charging. He has been briefed.
Dangerous Dogs
In a parliamentary question answered on 9 June Jim Paice, Minister at DEFRA indicated that there will be an announcement on dangerous dogs following the Home Office consultation on antisocial behaviour. Lord Redesdale’s Dog Control Bill had its Report Stage in the Lords on 10 June. A Westminster Hall debate, in Caroline Noakes’s name, took place on 6 July and a background brief was sent.
Firearms
The Government was expected to respond to the Home Affairs Select Committee recommendations on Thursday 9 June. However, the response has been delayed again and no firm date given for publication. We understand there might be a debate following publication and will continue to brief parliamentarians accordingly.
LobbyingThe targeted lobby of new intake MPs is on-going. We have met a number of 2010 Conservative MPs and we have already arranged meetings with Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs for after the summer recess.
Rural Policy Statement
DEFRA has announced they will be publishing a Rural Policy Statement before Summer recess which will provide further information about its plans to address rural needs and interests over the rest of this Parliament. This will outline the role of the new Rural Policy Unit within the Department.
CAMPAIGNS
HS2
A HS2 questionnaire has been sent out to hunts along the route and through a regional grass e-route. We have so far had 92 responses and the questionnaire responses will be used to form the basis of our HS2 consultation response.
Post Offices
The Post Bank Coalition is launching our new report ‘Sorted. A Sustainable Future for the Post Office’ with a round table discussion in Parliament. The event is expected to be attended by a select group of parliamentarians.
Outdoor Education
The Alliance, working closely with other organisations, has produced a brief for the Secretary of State for Education on the importance of outdoor education. This has been sent, with a request for a meeting to discuss the recommendations and ways of taking them forward.
Fuel Roundtable
We were invited to an Office of Fair Trading inquiry roundtable discussion on the future of the main gas grid. The Alliance made the case for regulation of the market, because currently the 3.6 million households who are off the main grid are left vulnerable to market volatilities and extreme weather, where suppliers can take advantage of vulnerable customers.
Natural Environment White Paper
With the recent launch of the Natural Environment White Paper the EFRA Select Committee has launched an inquiry into the proposals. The Countryside Alliance has submitted a paper to the Committee focussing on the lack of recognition of those land managers and farmers who are already undertaking a huge amount of conservation work.
Broadband
The Countryside Alliance has submitted evidence to the recent OFCOM and DCMS inquiries into the forthcoming Spectrum Auction. Our submissions focussed on how this auction can deliver improved mobile broadband coverage in rural areas.
Food Labelling
The food labelling report was released on 1 July. It was written up on page 2 of The Sun and Jenny Dunn took part in a phone in on the subject on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire. A short video was also made to accompany the report, which was pushed out through social media outlets and on the weekly grass-e-route.
The European Parliament has now voted on country of origin labelling and voted to extend mandatory country of origin labelling to all fresh meat products. Press releases were sent out welcoming this move but stating that we will continue campaigning for mandatory labelling to be extended to all meat products. We will be sending the report to all MPs, informing them of the EU vote and our ongoing campaign.
HUNTING
A number of police investigations involving hunts and Hunting Act and Badgers Act allegations are still in train but as yet there are no charges under either piece of legislation from the 2010/11 season.
SHOOTING
National Shooting Survey
The National Shooting Survey has received a good response with 2000 respondents in the first month. Special articles have been written to promote the Youth Survey that will appear in the Shooting Times and youth section of the Countryman’s Weekly in July. Promotion will also be at game fairs and cards have been printed for people to complete on the stands and through other shooting organisations.
Shoot Mailing / Shoot Packs
The annual shoot mailing will take place on the 18 July. Shoot packs are currently in production. Shoot packs include sweepstake cards, collection boxes, campaigning materials and other related literature. These packs, along with the shoot badges, will be ready for distribution at the CLA Game Fair.
FISHING
Scottish Salmon CatchesWe have been advised by the Salmon & Trout Association that a comprehensive new analysis by the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS) of official catch statistics demonstrates definitively that wild salmon catches in the salmon farming areas of the West Highlands and Islands have declined significantly compared with catches on the east coast, where there are no salmon farms. The RAFTS analysis demonstrates that east coast rod catches increased by some 38 per cent between 1970 and 2009. In stark contrast rod catches in the main aquaculture areas, from Cape Wrath to Mull of Kintyre and including the Hebrides, declined in the same period by more than 40 per cent. The study concludes: “There is a clear trend of declining salmon catches, compared with catches on the east coast, in areas where the Scottish aquaculture industry operates.
MOORLANDS CAMPAIGN
An article was produced for the new Shooting Campaign Newsletter, and this was circulated to all members of the Moorland Association, many of whom have asked to be added to the distribution of this update. Further articles on the uplands will be produced for subsequent editions of the e-newsletter.
Material on grouse shooting and its associated moorland management was provided for the article on the Natural Environment White Paper that was produced for the Shooting Times. Much of that material was also used by John Gardiner in his speech to the House of Lords on the 20 June, which resulted in Lord Henley’s strong endorsement and his acknowledgement that heather moorland and grouse moors are really the only business in the upland areas that survive without subsidy.
An article on hen harriers, the RSPB and its unsubstantiated accusations against landowners and their managers was published in the summer edition of the Countryside Alliance magazine, and the News Release and piece in the grass e-route regarding the report on the UK National Ecosystem Assessment highlighted the importance of private investment in moorland management through driven grouse shooting.
A meeting of the Hen Harrier Dialogue that is being facilitated by the Environment Council was attended, as has a meeting of the Moorland Association Public Relations Sub-Committee, the task of which is to review current arrangements, and produce a communications plan covering key messages, target audiences and goals.
GAME-TO-EAT
The Game-to-Eat website has undergone a major redesign. This year’s recipe booklet has gone to print. It is our biggest so far (16 pages) and for the first time, includes rabbit. Our programme of catering college workshops is being extremely well-received. The Grocer magazine (the bible of food retailers) featured a full page on game in its recent ‘Meat & Fish’ supplement. For game to be given equal clout as lamb, beef and pork demonstrates how established it now is. It would not have enjoyed this profile in The Grocer 10 years ago.
WALES
Breeding of Dogs
Work continues on the proposed new legislation on the breeding of dogs. A number of very successful meetings have taken place between Rachel Evans and Assembly Members (AMs). Several questions proposed by the CA were put by AMs to the Minister. The Minister has made a statement saying that he has encouraged his team to engage with stakeholders over the proposals and will make a statement on the 'amended legislation' in the Autumn.
Rachel Evans is working closely with the CHA to get hunting people to visit and lobby their AMs with regard to hunt kennels. Many other organisations have also been lobbied and seem supportive of an exemption for hunt kennels.
Rachel will continue to meet AMs and all have been invited to the CA stand at the Royal Welsh Show the week of the 18 July.
Rural Development Sub-Committee
The CA is active in lobbying the Environment and Sustainability Committee (and has led a further 21 organisations in doing so) to re-form the Rural Development Sub-Committee as there is a danger that it will be dropped. This would lessen the presence of rural affairs yet further given that this Government has already downgraded the rural affairs portfolio making it only a deputy ministerial post.
Salmon
There is the threat of an attempt to impose a catch and release rule on all salmon in Wales until 2015. The CA will be working closely with angling clubs on this.
Dangerous Dogs
The subject of dangerous dogs has been aired in the Assembly and Rachel Evans will be monitoring this and briefing AMs as appropriate in order to ensure our concerns are understood.
SCOTLAND
Recess
The Scottish Parliament is in recess from 2 July until 4 September inclusive.
Scotland Bill
Prior to recess the parliament’s Scotland Bill Committee issued a call for interested parties to submit written evidence on the Scotland Bill. Deadline for submission of this evidence is 9 September. SCA will be making a submission.
Code of Practice on Deer Management The SCA has submitted a response a response to Scottish Natural Heritage’s draft Code of Practice on Deer Management.
Daylight Savings Bill
The SCA took part in a debate, hosted by the ‘Lighter Later Campaign’ regarding the proposals outlined in the Daylight Savings Bill. Having conducted a straw poll of Heather Routes readers in late 2010 it is evident that a majority of our members/ supporters are not in favour of the Daylight Saving proposals. However, it was interesting to hear the arguments put forward by the Lighter Later Campaign and useful for us to have the opportunity to bring a rural perspective to the discussions.
Royal Highland Show
The SCA had a busy stand at the Royal Highland Show at the end of June. 182,000 people attended the show over its four days.
Scottish Game FairThe Scottish Game Fair took place at the start of July. Many trade stand holders commented that there were not as many ‘country’ people in attendance at the fair as normal, with more general public in evidence.
IRELAND
Northern Ireland
Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011Three consultations have been launched in respect of subordinate legislation brought about by the passing of the Welfare of Animals Act in Northern Ireland earlier this year. These consultations relate to permitted procedures carried out on animals by non veterinarians, the tail docking exemption for working dogs and the amendment and consolidation of regulations in respect of farmed animals.
Hunting Protocol - Northern IrelandHunting Protocol, Northern Ireland – further meetings have taken place and the draft Protocol is progressing well with tentative agreement from the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU). The draft document will now be taken to the next meeting of the Northern Ireland Masters of Hounds Association (NIMHA) for discussion. Irish Game and Country Living FairIrish Game and Country Living Fair on 25 and 26 June at Shanes Castle, Antrim – CAI attended this event. It gave the Team the opportunity to chat to members but sadly in terms of recruiting new members this event was not of economic benefit to the organisation.
Republic of Ireland
Commercial Draft Nets Return to Castlemaine Harbour We are truly disappointed to learn that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Pat Rabbitte T.D., has announced that commercial fishing in part of Castlemaine Harbour will be permitted from the 5 to the 3 July 2011. This is despite major lobbying efforts urging the Minister to refrain from re-opening the first mixed stock fishery since their closure in 2007. We believe that this decision represents a major slippage for Irish salmon conservation and may have severe repercussions far beyond our shores.
EUROPE
Sustainable Hunting Intergroup MeetingTim Hoggarth attended the meeting held in the European Parliament, Brussels, on Wednesday 15 June. A particularly useful presentation was given by Stephan Leiner, the Head of NATURA 2000 in the European Commission. During the course of which he said that it represented “an opportunity for hunters” and that there was “no general presumption against hunting in NATURA 2000 sites”. Tim Hoggarth raised the fact that it was now widely recognised that, providing it did not cause disturbance to the species being given protection by the site, hunting actually contributed to the management, development and enhancement of NATURA 2000 sites and that a more positive view of hunting’s contribution needed to be included in future presentations and documentation. This suggestion was positively received by Mr Leiner.
Wild Game GuideWe have been advised by the Food Standards Agency of amendments to the Wild Game Guide which will apply from 13 June 2011. The amendments allow the whole heads of wild game animals susceptible to Trichinella infestation, such as wild boar, to be sent to an Animal By-Product premises approved for the production of hunting trophies, pending the result of the test for Trichinella. In all such cases, complete traceability must be maintained. The amendments also allow the Hunters Declaration to cover more than one animal body, provided that the clear link between the animal bodies and the declaration covering them is established and guaranteed, together with the corresponding date, time and place of killing. All animal bodies covered by a single declaration may only be sent to a single game-handling establishment. The declaration indicates that no evidence has been found following examination after killing. The meat does not present a health risk and that animals displayed no abnormal behaviour before it was shot. The Wild Game Guide has been updated as the 6 June 2011 version and can be found at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/wildgameguide0611.pdf | 
