Mountain Clients

http://www.hse.gov.uk/aala/recommendation-to-abolish-aala.htm The so-called Adventure Activities Licencing Authority (AALA): In March, 2011, calls were made to abolish the AALA.  http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd236.htm The AALA is to be abolished. (21 Oct, 2011): The Health & Safety Executive wrote: ‘The decision (to abolish the AALA) stemmed from a review of the health and safety system commissioned by the Prime Minister last year. The review made a number of recommendations, one being to abolish the AALA via repeal of the Activities Centres (Young Persons’ Safety Act 1974. Future health and safety requirements will fall under the general duties of the existing Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1999. This recommendation, and all others in the review, were accepted by government and so abolition is going ahead.’ 

 

According to the Daily Mail dated the 19th October, 2006 (page 29) the government ‘Better Regulations Commission’ has ridiculed the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (set-up in 1996). Set up as a knee-jerk reaction to the Lyme Bay canoeing disaster(four canoeists died) in 1993, and yet, the death of four (could easily have been seven) Venture Scouts in December, 1998, attracted no attention whatsoever from the – AALA. Whilst the person deemed responsible for the Lyme Bay tragedy received a two year jail sentence the British Mountain Guides/UIAGM/IFMGA guide in charge of the four Venture Scouts, was found to be – not at fault. 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/244770.stm Members of the UIAGM work for the – AALA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_Bay_canoeing_tragedy The person deemed responsible was given a two year jail sentence…  

 

 The AALA (receives in excess of 1 million pounds sterling of taxpayers money per anualy) since its conception it has apparently put some 600 outdoor pursuits organisations (competition) – out of business – one way or another. The AALA advertises that it is an ‘independent’ authority and yet, passes out licenses to fellow British Mountaineering Council (BMC) & Association of British Mountain Guides (BMG) – members… Whilst the AALA constantly reminded us that they exist because of the Lyme Bay disaster, the loosing of four clients by a member of the British Mountain Guides / UIAGM / IFMGA, in December 1998 is never mentioned. Those four avoidable mountaineering deaths have been airbrushed out of the figures for fatalities to clients since the AALA came into being in 1996.