http://www.rifleshootermagazine.co.uk 7A report commissioned by the Labour Party
and edited by well-known environmentalist,
George Monbiot, has recommended radical
reform of land ownership and management
in England. The 76-page document,
published on 4 June, provides an insight
into future land taxation, planning and
management policies that Labour might
pursue if in government. It sets out plans
to promote community ownership of local
land through government-subsidised buy
outs, introduce a land value tax, and
extend the Scottish model of ‘Right to
Roam’ to England.
The document encourages communities
to take over land where “existing
landowners are mismanaging it to the
detriment of local people”. The example
given is Hebden Bridge, where it repeats
the claim that flooding in the town has
been caused by “an intensively managed
grouse shoot”. The reference the report
provides to support that claim is a blog
post written by the anti-grouse shooting
campaigner, Mark Avery. The document
suggests a Community Land Trust could be
established to buy land upstream of
Hebden Bridge to “manage it better,” but
does not give any details on what this
would mean in practice.
Shadow minister for the cabinet office,
Jon Trickett MP, said the Labour Party will
be “studying these recommendations in
detail” as part of its policy development
process ahead of the next general election.
Countryside Alliance chief executive, Tim
Bonner, commented: “It is a great shame
that once again Labour has failed to
engage with rural communities when
developing policies that would clearly have
an impact on the countryside.
“Sensible policies, such as greater
protection for public parks and support for
council-owned farms, are overshadowed by
a lack of understanding – and in some
cases clear prejudice – behind many of the
proposals in the document, which would do
more harm than good to rural Britain.”Labour publishes
land reform
proposals
UK looks to maintain access to the
EFP firearms passes post-Brexit
The home secretary, Sajid Javid, has
confirmed that the government is looking to
“maintain access” to the European Firearms
Pass (EFP) post-Brexit. This is the first time
the government has publicly confirmed it is
aiming to keep the arrangements that enable
people to travel across Europe with lawful
firearms with a single document.
In a letter to the Countryside Alliance,
Javid states: “The government expects to
reach a deal with the EU and in doing so
would look to maintain access to the
system of European Firearms Passes”. The
letter also states that in the event of leaving
the EU without a deal, “UK residents would
no longer be able to use an EFP to travel
with their firearm and would need to comply
with whatever licensing requirements each
EU country imposes”. This confirms the
advice set out in a guidance note published
by the government last year.
The home secretary’s comments were
made in response to a letter from the
Countryside Alliance, which raised concerns
about the government’s proposals for work
and travel arrangements outside the EU, set
out in a white paper published last year.
Countryside Alliance political relations
manager, James Somerville-Meikle,
commented: “We are pleased that the
government has recognised the importance
of the EFP. It has been a game changer since
its introduction in the UK in 1993 by reducing
the cost and bureaucracy of travelling across
Europe with lawfully held firearms.”Firearms licence fees
The government appears to have listened to
stakeholder concerns on proposed fees for
firearms licences that are issued by the
Home Office and the Scottish government.
Fees outlined in a government response
are 58% lower than those initially proposed
in 2017 and will apply in England, Wales
and Scotland.
BASC issued a robust response to the
eight-week public consultation, which sought
views on the implementation of new fees for
prohibited weapons dealers, museum
collections and Home Office-approved
shooting clubs. The Home Office consultation
did not deal with fees for firearm or shotgun
certificates issued by police forces.
Bill Harriman, BASC’s director of firearms,
said he was particularly pleased the fee for
museums would remain the same – £200 –
and that the introduction of a “sliding scale”
for variations represented progress.
He said: “The government appears to
have listened to stakeholder concerns as the
new fees are some 58% lower than the
consultation proposal. The retention of the
status quo for museums is particularly
pleasing. The commitment to maintain the
fee so as not to financially disadvantage
regimental and other smaller museums
is gratifying.
“The introduction of a graduated cost
scale for variations that involve differing
levels of police and government work is a
welcome acknowledgment of an issue raised
in stakeholder meetings.”
Mr Harriman said the decision to increase
the fee for club approval to £444 from £
was less welcome. He added: “Clubs are
beneficial institutions and instrumental in
introducing newcomers to the sport and yet
they are being subjected to a 428% rise. The
process whereby this fee level was arrived at
is not explained.”THE LATEST REPORTS FROM THE RIFLE WORLD
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