The BMC has recently written a strong letter outlining their concerns over the proposed regulations to a number of interested MP's. We also urge as many BMC members as possible to write to their MP's personally outlining there concerns over this issue.

The consultation period ends on 2 April and is due to be passed as law on 19 July. Although talks with HSE are still ongoing there is still no sign of any of our concerns being recognised. To help draft letters more Information is available here and also a copy of the letter sent by the BMC. We would ask that if possible you use this information and any of you own concerns to write letters in your own words as this will carry more weight than if MP's start receiving multiple copies of identical letters. Within the letter it is also important to ask your MP to raise this matter with Des Browne MP, the Minister for Work and Pensions, who is responsible for Health and Safety. Also to ask your MP to sign the Early Day Motion put down by Dr Julian Lewis MP on 8 March to draw attention to this issue.

Early Day Motion 789 "This house is surprised and concerned at the attitude of the H.S.E. in respect of EU Directive 2001/45/EC laying down safety roles for working with ladders and ropes. Notes the sensible approach of other EU countries which realise that the directive was never intended to cover outdoor adventurous activities such as mountaineering, caving and rock climbing let alone high wire circus acts, deplores the failure thus for to rule such activities as outside the scope of the proposed regulations and accordingly call on the H.S.E. to abandon such gold plating of sensible suggestions, which reduces them to absurdity." To find the name contact details for your MP using your postcode use this facility.

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