31 October is the date set for a debate on banning driven grouse shooting.
The debate will be in Westminster Hall and will start at 4:30pm. Three hours have been allocated to this debate – which is a very long time for this type of thing. It may indicate the interest that MPs have noticed in this subject.
Let’s be clear – there will be no decision made, no vote taken and the world will not be different immediately after the debate. Except, except, except, that what is sitting in people’s heads will have changed dramatically since we set out on this route in May 2014. Back then it would have been difficult to find this phrase in a national newspaper ‘public disquiet about driven grouse shooting is growing’ as appeared in the Guardian this week.
What we have done, together, is raise awareness of driven grouse shooting, make it an issue, and get it into parliament. That’s quite an achievement in itself.
On the day, the subject will be introduced by Stephen Double MP (St Austell and Newquay, 234 signatures) who is a member of the Petitions Committee (and whom I have offered to meet). Then MPs of all parties will have their chance to make points. And then there will be a period for SNP, Labour and then a Defra minister, presumable Therese Coffey, to state the government’s position.
Now is the time to ask your MP whether, now the date is known, whether they intend to attend and whether they will represent your views.
Ahead of the debate there is an evidence session on Tuesday between 215pm and 315pm. In the first half Jeff Knott from RSPB and I will give evidence (which really means answer questions) and then we can sit back and watch The Countryside Alliance and Moorland Association have their say.
Soon after Tuesday, probably on Wednesday, the written evidence submitted to the inquiry will be published. That will make fascinating reading, I’m sure.
In theory, MPs will read the evidence, get well briefed on the issues and then be prepared to speak from a place of authority on 31 October. We will see.
So we are heading for the endgame of this bit of the campaign. If you still have energy left then please get back to your MP, tell them about the evidence session and ask whether they intend to speak on 31 October in the Westminster Hall debate on grouse shooting and whether they will represent your views.
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My MP Heather Wheeler (Cons) despite being asked in writing twice has not answered the question on whether she will attend the debate. Mrs Wheeler however is writing to Angela Leadsom to consider the questions raised regarding the “stock response from Tory MP’s about DGS.” I eagerly await the reply.
Braintree MP James Cleverly has also not replied to either of the emails I sent regarding Driven Grouse Shooting. Will take that as a no!
Tracey,
Get on the phone to his constituency office and/or go in and see them and post/hand over a copy of the letter and ask for a response. Apparently E-mails can go astray!
That’s what I did, getting somewhere with my MP now!
Kelvin
Thank you I will do that
Hi Mark, excellent blog as always. Are you going to produce a template email for MPs?
Mick
The Mundell in the HoC is also steadfastly refusing to answer any letter or email from me regarding this issue. Whether he is ducking it entirely or it is his usual hit or miss style of correspondence I don’t know. Not that he’d recite anything other than the government line, as always.
Random22
Get on the phone to his constituency office and/or go in and see them and post/hand over a copy of the letter and ask for a response. Apparently E-mails can go astray!
That’s what I did, getting somewhere with my MP now!
Kelvin
3 hours isn’t a very long time ‘for this sort of thing’ Most petitions get a half day to a full day. I’m sure the Countryside alliance and Moorland Association will provide compelling evidence.
As I only had an automated reply to my 2nd email, I wrote again via ‘they work for you’; the date due for that reply is after the Evidence day. So then I will write again asking him to read the evidence before the debate. From what I garner in the media, the ‘poor’ soul appears to be very busy away from the constituency, so hoi poloi mails may be rather tiresome. I’m sorry to be such a trouble 🙂
Mairi,
Get on the phone to his/her constituency office and/or go in and see them and post/hand over a copy of the letter and ask for a response. Apparently E-mails can go astray!
That’s what I did, getting somewhere with my MP now!
Kelvin
Hi Mark,
I’m just nudging my MP who has agreed to speak at the debate on behalf of the SNP after I met with her. Is the evidence session THIS coming Tuesday 18th?
Cheers,
Ben
Found it! Yes it is. Email sent.
Is DEFRA aware the the Environment Agency have carried out cost benefit analysis on measures to reverse the damage caused by ‘managed moorlands’ and have used the ecosystems services method to reveal massive benefits to grip blocking, tree planting and peat restoration? The benefits in terms of flood resilience, protecting wildlife and improving fish habitat, reduced water treatment costs (it costs a fortune to get the brown peat colour from drinking water) are massive, and impact on many more people than shooting grouse benefits. These measures are published in DEFRA’s River Basin Management Plans, and contradict their arguments for grouse shooting.
I have emailed my MP with the date of the debate, asking if he can attend and represent our views and to respond to his original reply.
I’m looking forward to watching the evidence session and debate on the parliament website. Do we need a twitter hashtag for them?
Hi Mark
I’m just writing an email to my MP with the newly confirmed date and asking if he can attend, as well as outlining my response to the original response I received from Dr Coffey.
In checking the details, I spotted a slight error in your blog: the MP introducing the debate on the 31st is Steve DOUBLE, not Steven Pound.
Tom – you are right!
My MP Douglas Carswell who usually answers letters has not yet responded.