'Think Rural Health' was launched in September last year by Dr Iain Mungall, Royal College of General Practitioners Rural Practice Group Chairman and Member of the Rural Health Forum (RHF) during Rural Health Week.

Published by the Countryside Agency, the Institute of Rural Health (IRH) and RHF, the booklet is packed with information and examples of best practice to guide and inform Primary Care Trusts. Copies are available from the IRH at Gregynog, Tregynon, Newtown, Powys SY16 3PW (tel 01686 650818).

Ewen Cameron, chairman of the Countryside Agency and Rural Advocate, described the guide as an essential tool for PCTs in delivering future health services to rural communities.

IRH chief executive Jane Randall-Smith said she was delighted that 'Think Rural Health', which was researched and compiled by IRH staff, had been so well received by PCTs and others interested in rural health.

A partnership initiative, the RHF works for the health and well-being of rural communities by providing a point of national contact for all involved in rural health and social care and promoting partnerships and information exchange.

Funded by the Countryside Agency and the Department of Health, the RHF is managed by the IRH, an organisation dedicated to optimising health and well being in rural communities across the UK, from its base at Gregynog, near Newtown in Mid Wales.

For more information please contact Kate Mitchinson, Rural Health Forum co-ordinator, on 01686 650800 o

18 November, 2003
'Fraudulent claims' cause of payment hold-ups?
FPB Knutsford 12 November 03: The issue of the late payment of contracts connected with the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001was once again raised in parliament last week.

Liberal Democrat spokesman on Rural Affairs and Food, Andrew George, questioned the government as to whether the reported £50 million that is still owed to contractors involved in the Foot and Mouth crisis would be liable to statutory right to interest on late payment (SRI).

Nigel Griffiths, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, replied that "those [businesses] that are perpetrating or seeking to perpetrate fraud against DEFRA, who are challenging the many fraudulent claims," would not have an opportunity to claim SRI.

Although the Forum of Private Business (FPB), with the backing of Mr Griffiths, have repeatedly requested a meeting with DEFRA to investigate the outstanding invoices, the department and its representatives have flatly refused to discuss the issue and in the absence of more up-to-date figures we can only guess at the true figure that remains outstanding.

At a recent meeting with David Rabey, director of purchasing and supply at Defra, the question of the total value of the outstanding invoices was raised, yet no clear figure was proferred by Mr Rabey.

FPB agree with Mr. Griffiths that fraudulent claims need to be investigated fully in order to protect the public purse, yet the small amount of potentially fraudulent claims identified by the National Audit Office's figures in no way justifies the withholding of payments to the vast majority of contractors that still have legitimate invoices outstanding.

FPB believe that the Government should do all that it can to facilitate the SRI that many contractors are entitled to under the government's own Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act, introduced in 1998.

FPB have examined the National Audit Office's report 'The 2001 Outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease' and the figures indicate that the 'many fraudulent claims' referred to are nowhere near as widespread as suggested and do not justify the continued delay in settling outstanding invoices.

According to the figures contained in the report over 1200 contractors were involved in the Foot and Mouth crisis and less than 1% of those contractors' claims have, or are currently being, investigated as fraudulent. At the publication date of the report not a single contractor had been prosecuted as a result of the investigations.

FPB notes that 18 allegations of fraud have been made against contractors: of these 6 claims have been dismissed and 12 are still under investigation. Ironically, 19 civil servants were found guilty of fraud, which led to 4 members of staff being prosecuted and 15 subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings, for fraudulent claims made during the handling of the crisis.

The All Party Parliamentary Small Business Group are conducting a public meeting into the issue which is due to take place at Somerset County Council Chambers' Shire Hall in Taunton on 25 November when evidence from contractors involved in the dispute will be aired and representatives of FPB and other organizations such as the National Farmers Union will be present.

Any business that still has outstanding invoices is urged to contact Andy Mowlah, 01565 634467 or visit www.fpb.co.uk to learn more about the work we are doing to bring to a close a crisis that has rumbled on for far too long.

A full version of the NAO report is available by visiting:

http://www.nao.gov.uk/publications/nao_reports/01-02/0102939.pdf

Directions to the location of the hearing can be found by visiting:

http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/council/contactus.cfm

FPB's mission is to influence laws and policies that affect private businesses and support members' profitability. FPB is the only small business organisation whose policies are always determined by its members through research, including a unique Referendum postal ballot.

FPB Press Office 01565 634709

THINK RURAL HEALTH BOOKLET SUCCESS
An information booklet designed to assist in planning rural health services has been such a success that an extra 2,000 copies have been printed. Most of the initial 5,000 copies have been distributed to Primary Care Trusts throughout the UK.

'Think Rural Health' was launched in September last year by Dr Iain Mungall, Royal College of General Practitioners Rural Practice Group Chairman and Member of the Rural Health Forum (RHF) during Rural Health Week.

Published by the Countryside Agency, the Institute of Rural Health (IRH) and RHF, the booklet is packed with information and examples of best practice to guide and inform Primary Care Trusts. Copies are available from the IRH at Gregynog, Tregynon, Newtown, Powys SY16 3PW (tel 01686 650818).

Ewen Cameron, chairman of the Countryside Agency and Rural Advocate, described the guide as an essential tool for PCTs in delivering future health services to rural communities.

IRH chief executive Jane Randall-Smith said she was delighted that 'Think Rural Health', which was researched and compiled by IRH staff, had been so well received by PCTs and others interested in rural health.

A partnership initiative, the RHF works for the health and well-being of rural communities by providing a point of national contact for all involved in rural health and social care and promoting partnerships and information exchange.

Funded by the Countryside Agency and the Department of Health, the RHF is managed by the IRH, an organisation dedicated to optimising health and well being in rural communities across the UK, from its base at Gregynog, near Newtown in Mid Wales.