By J. Brock (FINN)
The General Purposes Committee met at 0800hrs on Wednesday, 27 January 2010 and the meeting lasted all day. First on the agenda was a discussion about Ex-co papers.
Livestock transport subsidies:
Farmers on the west transporting sheep to the abattoir get subsidies on a sliding scale with the most given at £2.50 per sheep. Those Farmers nearest the ferry terminal get nothing but have a ferry subsidy of £1.50 per sheep. Most farmers liked the sliding scale but others want a flat rate. Standard rate on East Falkland is 30p.
Falkland Islands National Plan for Trawling:
The above mentioned plan will now be translated into Korean. It is already translated into Spanish. The plan is necessary for the mitigation of seabird deaths in trawl nets.
BHP EIS:
BHP Billiton Petroleum (Falkland Islands) Corporations Environmental Impact Statement is now out for public consultation and that company will be drilling in the South Falklands Basin.
Complaints Commissioners Bill:
A Complaints Commissioners Bill has been agreed and is now out for public consultation. Members of Assembly want as much feedback as possible on this legislation. There are some relevant questions with this draft legislation.
Public Accounts Committee Implementation:
Members of the Public Accounts Committee have to now declare their public interests.
Land Rights:
A few people from overseas who had status through a parent have applied for a licence to own land in the Falklands. There are anomalies that will be ironed out in due course.
Mt Pleasant Related Items:
MOD Freight Rates have increased.
If a member of a household works at MPA the entire occupancy of that household is not entitled to Family allowance.
Other items:
H. E. The Governor Mr Alan Huckle attended and announced that Mr John Benjamin, UK Ambassador to Chile based in Santiago would visit the Falklands. It could be next week.
Tim Thorogood came to introduce David Jenkins who is the new director of the Health and Education Department. Members of the Assembly wished him every success. He is out of the Islands due to the death of his mother. He will be gone for a few weeks.
