OUR
FARMERS
The University of Cambridge Farm Business Survey
reveals that net farm incomes in the eastern counties of England fell for
the third successive year in 1998-1999 to a 10 year low average of just £128
per hectare – 9.7% down on the previous year.
Although record yields of winter wheat of 8.44 tons
per hectare were recorded in the region, low crop prices and strengthening
Sterling resulted in net farm incomes of only £82/ha on the mainly cereal
farms – some 40% down on the previous year. Net farm income on mixed
cropping was £184/ha. After pig and poultry farms, the dairy with arable
farms experienced the greatest fall in both gross output and net farm
income. Gross margin fell by 14% to £1008/ha, while net farm income fell
by 55% to £93/ha, which provided no return on tenant’s capital. Pig
farmers have suffered most of all with exceptionally low prices such that
their net losses were £76/ha in 1997-98 and a loss of £652/ha in
1998-99!
The EU reserves 50% of its budget of £60bn for
subsidising its farmers. Continental farmers have traditionally secured
the lion’s share of this budget. British farmers have faced
exceptionally tough times in the last three years. They have not received
the subsidies they deserve. Is this Blair’s legacy to rural England?
Clearly, the Labour Government has precipitated bankruptcies and hardship
for the farming community. I intend to continue to fight for our farmers
and fishermen as life in our towns and villages depend on a successful
farming economy.
TOBACCO
The European Parliament gave approval for:-
·
Reduced levels for tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide yields
for cigarettes
·
The need for disclosure of additives to tobacco products,
their use and safety.
·
Increased size and clarity of health warnings.
·
The EU limits on nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide to apply
to products manufactured for export to countries outside the EU.
I support higher health and environmental standards
governed by a reasonable regulatory framework for tobacco products for
products made for sale in the EU. However, I do NOT
support that products for export outside the EU should be subject to EU
limits. Such a measure would result in such production manufactured
outside the EU thereby precipitating significant job losses for British
factories in Nottingham, Bristol and in the North of England! I voted
against this part of the directive as I believe, we in the EU should be
creating jobs and not destroying them.
ELECTRONIC
COMMERCE
The global electronic commerce market is growing
extremely fast and could be worth $1.4 trillion by the year 2003. In
Europe, electronic commerce is already worth $17 billion and is expected
to reach $340billion by 2003.
The European Directive, to be implemented by all
Member States within 18 months, covers all Information Society services
such as:-
·
business to business and business to consumer transactions
·
provision of free services to the recipient e.g. funded by
advertising or sponsorship revenue
·
online electronic transactions such as inter-active tele-shopping
of goods and services and online shopping malls.
Transparency, compliance with codes of practice and
cross-border online dispute settlement systems should enhance consumer
confidence.
CONSTITUENCY
VISITS TO PARLIAMENT IN STRASBOURG
There were two group visits. Mrs. Caroline Savage
led a group of 35 constituents in April and Mrs. Pauline Carver led
another group in May. With pick-up
points in Norfolk and Suffolk, 35 constituents set out on Sunday by coach
for a Channel Tunnel crossing and a night’s rest in the champagne
district of France. They continued the following day for a two-night break
in Strasbourg where they visited the Parliament and the city centre. The
return journey offered another rest night in the champagne district and a
leisurely arrival in England on Thursday.
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Such trips offer
a unique opportunity to observe and assess the work of the European
Parliament. It offers an opportunity to meet the Members of the European
Parliament from our Region. It is a lovely short break and I think all
those who came enjoyed themselves.
Future trips:- 10 -14th
June 2001
2 - 6th September 2001
Please contact
your Conservative Association Chairman and Agent/Secretary to book.
FIRST YEAR
AS MEP
Member of
Committee on Budgetary Control
Member of
Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research & Energy
Member of
Committee on International Co-operation & Development
Conservative
Spokesman on ACP: EU Joint Assembly
Member of EP
Delegation to Palestine
·
In Parliament and Budgetary Control Committee, I persisted
in detailed criticism of fraud, corruption and mismanagement of the
European Investment Bank (EIB). Such criticism was reported by British and
European media. It finally forced the European Commission to take the EIB
to the European Court where it will be obliged to give answers to the
questions I have raised!
·
In Parliament, Budgetary Control and Development Committees
I challenged Commissioner Nielsen (Development Aid) that specific aid
projects were mismanaged in Tanzania. My report on Tanzania, based on a
visit there, embarrassed Mr. Kinnock (in charge of reform!), Mr. Nielsen
and Mrs. Glennys Kinnock who had different views. It forced Mr.
Nielsen to visit Tanzania, give 1m Euros to strengthen Tanzania’s
anti-corruption squad and suspend the aid programme pending immediate
action from the recipient country!
·
My Report on « Aid for self-reliance » for
Africa presented to the EPP-ED Group has persuaded many in Parliament to
re-assess EU policies for developing countries. Most countries in Africa
and beyond are poorer today than when they became independent. Corrupt
governments and ill-conceived aid programmes have contributed to this. The
only way out is to help them achieve self-reliance so that they can cease
to be beggars for life!
·
I continue to fight for EU funding for Eastern Region. I
have promoted the Great Yarmouth’s outer harbour and the East West rail
link to connect Felixstowe to our national network. I fought to lift the
ban on export of British beef and opposed inappropriate legislation on
waste incinerators, battery cage sizes, and tobacco products for export
from the EU.
I led a small delegation of MEPs to Iraq on a
fact- finding mission. We met Mr.Tariq Aziz, Government Ministers, Iraqi
Parliamentarians, the business community leaders, NGOs, UN, WHO, Red
Cross, EU diplomats and the leaders of the Christian community. We visited
schools, hospitals, poor residential areas and the Shiia areas in Southern
Iraq. I presented a New Resolution that was debated and overwhelmingly
passed by the European Parliament.
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