COULD SOON FOLLOW

                                             POST OFFICE CARD ACOUNT “ESSENTIAL” TO MAINTAIN NETWORK

Only days after the news that 52 post offices will close across North Wales – Lib Dems are warning that further closures could soon be just around the corner.

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman Mark Young is urging the government to award the new Post Office card account contract (POCA) to Post Office Ltd to protect the network from being further decimated.

The current card is used by 4m people every week to access pensions and benefits at the Post Office.

Young said: “It is essential to maintain confidence and support for the Post Office network that this contract is renewed and the decision is taken quickly.

“After the disappointing outcome of the current round of closures up to 25% more of local branches could be closed if the government removes sub-postmasters’ right to handle state pensions and benefits payments.

“The Government must pay far greater heed to the effects the closure of post offices have on a community - nearly 8 out of 10 people feel that the closure of their local post office would present a loss of essential local services.

“This is yet another example of an over centralised Government entirely out of touch with local communities.”

Eleanor Burnham, Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales added: “It is astonishing that the Government seems intent on destroying a service which is of such great value to so many people across my region.

“The post office card account offers an accessible and affordable way for thousands of people in the area to receive their benefits, yet the Government is proposing to axe it.  

“Without the vital revenue stream from the post office card account, the Government is further undermining the long term viability of the post office network meaning that even more than the 3,500 post offices already closed by Labour will be put out of business.”

ENDS

1. Your shooting checklist for the season

2. MORI breaks rules over hunting poll

3. Letts lets rip at Alun Michael

4. Cheltenham Countryside Raceday

5. Write to the Chancellor - cut the VAT

1. Your shooting checklist for the season

To coincide with the start of the pheasant season, our Game-to-Eat campaign has launched a series of six game cooking web films alongside celebrity chef Phil Vickery. Phil's films, which you can view here, complement a wealth of other facts, figures and ideas produced by the Countryside Alliance for the shooting community.

The Countryside Alliance's Game to Eat campaign has a dual role - by popularising game as food, and encouraging more and more people to try game, it also encourages people to support their local communities, building a strong sense of community spirit and, vitally, a strong local economy. Since 2002 when the campaign began, sales of game are up 64% and continuing to rise, generating sales of £69million a year. More people than ever are trying game as food, meaning shoots and related businesses can reap the benefits, and we are keen to show you how.

Your shooting checklist for the season is as follows:

• Be up to date with the 2008 Code of Good Shooting Practice so that you are following best practice and delivering sustainable shooting
• Ensure you have a written health and safety policy and risk assessment if you are a shoot with five or more employees (this is a legal requirement). A risk assessment of the shoot is in line with the Code of Good Shooting Practice and the Game Shoot Standard Assurance Scheme. Download a dummy copy here. It is not a definitive guide, but the format is HSE approved. The Countryside Alliance's advice will also make your duties clearer - read it here.
• Have a copy of "Making the most of your game" handy. This functional leaflet is vital for everyone within the industry and contains information under such headings as "Installing a Chiller", "Selling Game in Small Quantities", "European Food Hygiene Regulations" and "Processing Game".

This advice is designed to be helpful, but let's never forget the camaraderie, laughter and challenges of our days in the field. May I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable season and I look forward to reporting shooting and game's even greater success next year.

Simon Hart
Chief Executive

2. MORI breaks rules over hunting poll

An investigation by the British Polling Council has found that MORI broke the 'Objects and Rules' of the Council over the publication of a poll commissioned by anti-hunting groups. The MORI research was carried out for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the League Against Cruel Sports and the RSPCA, and partial results were published on 17th February 2008. An IFAW press release included a quote from MORI founder Sir Robert Worcester who was also listed as a contact. The press release did not include any details of the question which was asked.

British Polling Council rules state that full details of published research must be published on the research company's website within 48 hours of details being released. Details of the poll were only released on the MORI website 12 days after the publication of the press release when MORI were contacted by the Countryside Alliance. Only then was it revealed that the poll question included an explicit comparison between 'fox hunting', 'badger baiting' and 'dog fighting'.

The British Polling Council Objects and Rules promote honest and fair public opinion research by ensuring full disclosure of research questions and data. This research was not published in a fair way. No member of the public reading, or viewing, the resulting media coverage could have known that the research involved comparing hunting to indefensible activities like dog fighting.

In 2005 MORI was commissioned by the BBC to ask a straight question about hunting and less than half the population supported a ban. This poll, commissioned by anti-hunting organisations, asked a biased question and the resulting press release claimed that over three quarters of people support the ban on hunting.

The anti-hunting movement may be desperate to claim support for its failing legislation, but in failing to publish full details of the survey on its website MORI has broken the clear rules of the British Polling Council.

3. Letts lets rip at Alun Michael

In his new book, "50 People Who Buggered Up Britain", the Daily Mail's peerless sketchwriter Quentin Letts offers his own roll call of the 50 prime suspects he blames for wrecking our country. One of Letts' culprits is Alun Michael - a figure with whom followers of hunting's history will be all too familiar. This extract was published in the Daily Mail on 8th October 2008:

"Fox-hunting, as traditionally practised, became an illegal activity during Tony Blair's second term. Hundreds of hours of parliamentary effort were devoted to its extermination. MPs bent over backwards to criminalise an outdoor sport pursued by some of the most upstanding members of the community. The ban was ridiculous and impractical and it tarnished Parliament's own standing.

"The Government minister who pushed through the hunting ban? A dismal little doormat called Alun Michael.

"To look at, he is not a striking proposition, a careworn creature with the hunched shoulders and lank hair of a natural loser. Alun Michael is an authentic middler, a worker bee, putty in the hands of more confident colleagues.

"On hunting, he got his way. Ill-informed, emotive arguments defeated common sense. But he still looked flea-bitten as he led the canter towards the ban. He still looked miserable, mangy, weak."

4. Cheltenham Countryside Raceday

This year will see the 21st Countryside Raceday at Cheltenham. The Raceday, Friday 14th November, will spearhead the three-day Open Meeting and provide a unique blend of top-class racing and entertainment based around countryside activities.  Proceeds will be shared between the Countryside Alliance and the County Air Ambulance.  

As well as six top-flight races, featuring the Cross Country Chase, the racecourse will also stage displays of hounds, a parade of leading National Hunt stallions and a simulated rescue by the Air Ambulance.

There is a busy shopping village with a wide range of exhibitors, and plenty of opportunity to get to grips with Christmas shopping. Drinks and snacks are available all day to Countryside Alliance members in the heart of the tented village. Please bring your Countryside Alliance membership card to guarantee entry. For full details, please call Cheltenham Racecourse on 0844 800 0668 or visit www.cheltenham.co.uk.  The Alliance will, once again, be having a stand during the three-day meeting.  The Alliance stand at Cheltenham is always incredibly busy and our full stock of Christmas cards will be available to buy.

5. Write to the Chancellor - cut the VAT

The Countryside Alliance has been calling for a Cut in VAT on maintenance and home improvement work which would help the Government achieve its target of cutting carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. It would also benefit millions of UK homeowners by getting rid of cowboy builders, helping those who cannot afford vital repairs to their homes, bringing our empty properties back into use and protecting the countryside.
 
At the forthcoming Ecofin Council meeting in November, European Finance Ministers will be asked to decide whether to support the European Commission's proposal to amend VAT Directive 2006/112/EC so as to provide Member States with the flexibility to apply reduced VAT rates for some labour-intensive services on a permanent basis.  This would allow for a reduction in VAT from 17.5 per cent to five per cent in the following areas:
 
·    Provision of services related to renovation, repair, transformation, maintenance and cleaning of housing
·    Provision of services related to renovation, repair, transformation, maintenance and cleaning of places of worship, cultural heritage and historic monuments by the Member State.
 
We know that a reduced rate of VAT can reap economic benefits.  In December 2007, the Isle of Man Treasury reported on the impact of a reduced rate of VAT charged on the renovation and repair of private dwellings in the United Kingdom (Isle of Man) and concluded that, "The actual tax take increased despite the 12.5 per cent differential in VAT for the comparable organisations" and that, "The experiment had been a fiscal success on the Island."
 
The Belgian Government has seen the measure increase both turnover and employment. The French Government saw the creation of some 43,000 new jobs in the construction industry and 5.6 per cent growth of turnover in the construction industry in the order of ?1.4 billion.  In Italy, the measure saw the creation of between 65,000 to 75,000 new jobs in the construction industry and 35,000 enterprises emerged from the informal economy and started paying VAT for the first time. Not to mention Portugal's construction industry, which enjoyed 20 to 25 per cent growth, well above average, and created many thousands of new jobs.
 
The Countryside Alliance and the Cut the VAT Coalition are calling on everyone who supports the cut to write to the Chancellor asking him to vote in November supporting the amendment of VAT Directive 2006/112/EC. This will demonstrate to the Chancellor that not only is there considerable support for this in Parliament, but also amongst the general public.
 
You can contact the Chancellor by writing to him.
 
Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
LONDON SW1A 2HQ
 
Or email ministers@hm-treasury.gsi.gov.uk