A while ago, BASC launched a tool that would allow you to question your local MP and PPC's on their views about shooting prior to the forthcoming general election.
I gave it a spin, wondering who would come back in my local consituency - for reference, I vote in Slough. My MP is Fiona MacTaggart (LAB) who has previously been responsive when I have written to her, and seems to be an active and dedicated MP. I am not naturally a Labour supporter, but I do take people as I find them.
This is the email that was sent from the BASC tool (the tool is here in case you haven't seen it).
I thought it might be interesting to compare responses from MP's around the place.
I am emailing you as a candidate for my constituency in the 2015 general election to ask for your views on shooting sports.
Shooting sports have a key role in the economy and management of the countryside. The recently published ‘Value of Shooting’ report shooting shows that:
- Shooting supports the equivalent of 74,000 full time jobs in the UK
- Shooting is worth £2 billion to the UK economy (GVA)
- Shooting is involved in the management of two-thirds of the rural land area
- 600,000 people in the UK shoot live quarry, clay pigeons or targets
- Shoot providers spend nearly £250 million a year on conservation
For further information on the benefits of shooting click the link below:
http://basc.org.uk/value_of_shooting_infographichttp://basc.org.uk/value_of_shooting_infographic
Given this, I would be grateful if you answer the following two questions:
1. Do you support shooting sports conducted according to the law and the current codes of practice? Yes / No / Don’t Know
2. If elected would you join the All Party Group on Shooting and Conservation? Yes / No / Don’t Know
I will be letting the British Association for Shooting and Conservation know about your reply. They represent over 140,000 British shooters and will be letting their members and others know where candidates stand. If you’d like to expand on your views, please do, and BASC will make arrangements for people to find out about your views in detail.
Thank you in advance for responding to these questions.
Yours sincerely,
I sent my mail on 10th March - to date, I have only received one reply from the incumbent MP - here it is (only edited to remove my address):
Dear Matt Rutherford,
Thank you for writing to me about shooting. Hearing from constituents is important to me, it helps me to represent you in Parliament so I’m glad you got in touch.
Shooting is important; the economic benefits alone are valuable but it's also an important part of our tradition and culture with it being a popular pastime and sport at events such as the Commonwealth Games and Olympics. I was one of a handful of MPs who opposed a complete ban on handguns, because I do think that shooting, when managed responsibly and legally can be a safe and enjoyable activity.
It is, of course, vital that all shooting is within existing laws, guidance and codes of practice and that animal welfare concerns are recognised and respected. Organisations involved in shooting and the countryside - including the BASC - have worked closely with policy makers on these issues and I hope that continues.
I have joined the APPGs events in this parliament and I would expect to continue to do so in the future. I will certainly carry on standing up and pushing for responsible shooting to remain a legal activity for people to enjoy.
Thank you again for writing to me about this. If I can help further with this or any other issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me again. If you want to be kept updated about the work that I do, you can sign up to my email newsletter here.
Yours sincerely,
Fiona Mactaggart MP
I gave it a spin, wondering who would come back in my local consituency - for reference, I vote in Slough. My MP is Fiona MacTaggart (LAB) who has previously been responsive when I have written to her, and seems to be an active and dedicated MP. I am not naturally a Labour supporter, but I do take people as I find them.
This is the email that was sent from the BASC tool (the tool is here in case you haven't seen it).
I thought it might be interesting to compare responses from MP's around the place.
I am emailing you as a candidate for my constituency in the 2015 general election to ask for your views on shooting sports.
Shooting sports have a key role in the economy and management of the countryside. The recently published ‘Value of Shooting’ report shooting shows that:
- Shooting supports the equivalent of 74,000 full time jobs in the UK
- Shooting is worth £2 billion to the UK economy (GVA)
- Shooting is involved in the management of two-thirds of the rural land area
- 600,000 people in the UK shoot live quarry, clay pigeons or targets
- Shoot providers spend nearly £250 million a year on conservation
For further information on the benefits of shooting click the link below:
http://basc.org.uk/value_of_shooting_infographichttp://basc.org.uk/value_of_shooting_infographic
Given this, I would be grateful if you answer the following two questions:
1. Do you support shooting sports conducted according to the law and the current codes of practice? Yes / No / Don’t Know
2. If elected would you join the All Party Group on Shooting and Conservation? Yes / No / Don’t Know
I will be letting the British Association for Shooting and Conservation know about your reply. They represent over 140,000 British shooters and will be letting their members and others know where candidates stand. If you’d like to expand on your views, please do, and BASC will make arrangements for people to find out about your views in detail.
Thank you in advance for responding to these questions.
Yours sincerely,
I sent my mail on 10th March - to date, I have only received one reply from the incumbent MP - here it is (only edited to remove my address):
Dear Matt Rutherford,
Thank you for writing to me about shooting. Hearing from constituents is important to me, it helps me to represent you in Parliament so I’m glad you got in touch.
Shooting is important; the economic benefits alone are valuable but it's also an important part of our tradition and culture with it being a popular pastime and sport at events such as the Commonwealth Games and Olympics. I was one of a handful of MPs who opposed a complete ban on handguns, because I do think that shooting, when managed responsibly and legally can be a safe and enjoyable activity.
It is, of course, vital that all shooting is within existing laws, guidance and codes of practice and that animal welfare concerns are recognised and respected. Organisations involved in shooting and the countryside - including the BASC - have worked closely with policy makers on these issues and I hope that continues.
I have joined the APPGs events in this parliament and I would expect to continue to do so in the future. I will certainly carry on standing up and pushing for responsible shooting to remain a legal activity for people to enjoy.
Thank you again for writing to me about this. If I can help further with this or any other issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me again. If you want to be kept updated about the work that I do, you can sign up to my email newsletter here.
Yours sincerely,
Fiona Mactaggart MP
