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Scout success in stopping rain tax
28/09/2009
The Government have just announced that it is going to intervene to stop Ofwat’s rain tax and introduce a sensible social water charging regime.
Over the past year, The Scout Association has been campaigning against Ofwat's planned changes to the way water companies charge community groups in England and Wales for the
disposal of rainwater.
Scout Groups had been reporting an increase in water costs of between £60 and £600 a
year. This represents between 1% and 25% of their overall budgets and has a direct impact on the fun and adventurous activities they can provide young people in the local community.
Protesting outside Parliament
In July Scouts from across the UK were joined by former Rugby England International Brian Moore outside Parliament, where with banners they proclaimed their stance against the tax.
Later the same day day at a meeting of the All Parliamentary Scout Group, Environment Minister Huw Iranca-Davies gave a firm commitment that if Ofwat failed to come up with a satisfactory solution to the issue the government would intervene.
A welcome announcement...
Today's announcement will be welcomed by all community groups across England and Wales who have been frustrated by Ofwat’s failure to understand the damage and financial hardship their policies were going to cause.
18 year Scout Leader Nancy Ibrahim said: 'It’s great news to find out that the Minister has kept his promise to Scouting to stop the rain tax. We were really worried about where we were going to find the money to pay these charges and the cuts this would mean for our activities as a result.'
Read
the full statement from The Scout Association regarding the Government's announcement.
See more about the story on the
BBC websiteFind out more about The Scout Association's
Stop The Rain Tax campaign.
Comments
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By Dave
on 28/09/2009 16:48 Awesome news!
Well done to Stella, Sem and and public affairs team, all the SYCs and all people, young and old who have campaigned for this decision!
Scout power at its best!!!
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By Tim Keegan - Kendal
on 28/09/2009 18:47 That's fabulous news. Congratulations to everyone who coordinated and took part in the "persuasion" campaign. Still not impressed by United Utilites' greed.
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By Dirk
on 28/09/2009 20:55 Common sense prevails at last!
Aint it amazing what we can do if we by grouping together on a common cause.
Well done everyone
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By Tony Marsella DC Rugby
on 29/09/2009 09:37 Scout Power!!!!
What a fantastic piece of news. It just goes to show if enough like minded people get together and insist on being treated fairly…We can move mountains. Well done all who have been involved from every Scout Group that has their own HQ and Sport Club.
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By Danny Grant
on 29/09/2009 11:25 Brilliant well done everyone
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By Roy 1st Bourne End
on 29/09/2009 14:10 Well done to the team. Thanks to all the leaders who have supported them. Also don't forget all the young people who gave up their time.
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By DAVE.
on 30/09/2009 23:06 WELL DONE EVERYBODY. THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER UNTIL IT IS PASSED BY THE GOVERMENT AND STOPPED FOR EVER.
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By Graham Eagle - DC Plymouth
on 01/10/2009 11:02 Good news indeed. Congratulations to all those who took up the cause.
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By Patrick
on 03/10/2009 09:20 Great lets keep our fingers crossed they see sence and pass it through Parliament - then we can fight for the refunds
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By Colin - GSL Dinnington (Northumberland)
on 03/10/2009 12:30 Appears to be excellent news, but (forgive my cynicism) lets wait and see just how much intervention the Govt actually makes.
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By Janet Jackson
on 04/10/2009 17:06 Brilliant news.
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By Rod Carder
on 05/10/2009 11:09 I am a little surprised that the Daily Telegraph tried to take most of the credit without mentioning the Scout Assocn once. I thought this was supposed to be a concerted effort by all those affected not just sports clubs and the Churches.
Well done to all those whose determination have won the day but we must be vigilant to prevent it being introduced by stealth.
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By Graham Penny DESC Redditch
on 06/10/2009 16:25 Finally seen scence, thanks all who helped
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