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RENEWABLE
ENERGY IN EAST ANGLIA
All
of us welcome the reduction of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. I am
therefore pleased to report that the East of England is at the forefront
in such measures and leads the UK in renewable energy production.
Every
week, a company in Shipdham, Norfolk collects 50,000 litre of used
vegetable oil from restaurants, cafeterias and factories throughout
England. It chemically treats this waste oil and produces pure biodiesel,
glycerine and soap concentrate.
This
biodiesel can run any diesel engine without modification giving the same
mileage and engine performance as normal diesel. Unlike fossil fuels, it
does not produce particulates in the air on combustion, thereby helping
enormously all those suffering from asthma and other air-borne allergies.
Furthermore, it produces no more CO2 than the plants consumed in the first
place in growing the seeds that yield the vegetable oil.
Another
company in Essex has developed a unique way of extracting gas and oil from
of old vehicle tyres. This process, pyrolisis, does not require burning
the tyres and there is no air pollution or emission of harmful gases. 2
tonnes of waste tyres can produce a massive 4.5 kW of energy!
We
discard over 100,000 car and lorry tyres a day in the UK alone, which are
expensive to dispose of. From July 2003, an EU Directive will forbid
disposal of tyres in landfill sites. Local Authorities are struggling to
handle the large number of abandoned cars, fridges, electrical items and
old tyres that are dumped in our countryside. Ratepayers will have to foot
the bill for disposal unless we can encourage new technology for renewable
energy that will convert such waste to energy without any pollution.
HELP THE POOR TO BE SELF-RELIANT
Almost
1 billion people live on less than US$ 1 a day in rural areas of
developing countries. As Co-ordinator of the African, Caribbean Pacific (ACP):
EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and Vice President of its Economic
Development Committee, I have stressed the importance of encouraging
self-reliance through the transfer of technical knowledge and skills to
allow the poor to have a stake in their rural economies.
My Parliamentary Report, "Sustainable
Agricultural Policy, Agrarian Reform and Rural Development for
Self-Reliance in Developing Countries," promotes this principle
and encourages future aid programmes to be directed to establish capacity
of food production and support for basic needs of the population e.g. health and education.
This
Report compliments my other major Report on "Combating HIV/AIDS, TB
& Malaria" that sets out the EU blueprint for fighting these
diseases in poor countries. It promotes lower prices (tier pricing) of
life saving medicines, training of medical personnel and encouraging
development of vaccines for global distribution.
PHARMACEUTICALS
REVIEW
As a pharmacist for over 30 years, it has been a challenge and a
pleasure for me to engage actively in formulating the new EU legislation
for pharmaceutical and veterinary medicines.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers have applied quotas to supply
of essential prescription medicines to wholesalers. This has resulted in
shortages for doctors and hospitals. I have successfully introduced
amendments to ensure an uninterrupted supply from manufacturers so that
patients are guaranteed the medicines they need.
Similarly, for veterinary medicines, I have introduced
amendments that allow our Agricultural Merchants to continue to supply
common medicines such as wormers, dips and vaccines without a veterinary
prescription. This is essential for farmers and horse owners and will save
them substantial costs.
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HELPING OUR BUSINESSES
My Report on "E-Commerce & the impact of
technology on small businesses" is ready for debate in Committee and
Parliament. This will establish the guiding principles of free enterprise,
minimum red tape and tax incentives for prompting small businesses to create
the jobs and wealth they do.
I organised and sponsored two Conferences for Small &
Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) this year - in Suffolk (July) that was
televised by BBC and broadcast on East at Westminster and a second one in
Essex (October). Each of them was attended by more than 60 persons
representing farmers, businesses, voluntary organisations and local
authorities.
The speakers, including a Brussels based specialist,
focused on how our businesses could access the vast amount of EU funding
that is available. The speakers quoted examples of successful companies and
invited participants to ask questions relating to their own businesses. With
£350 million of EU funds available to small businesses in the UK until
2006, there is a real opportunity for our businesses to identify if they
qualify. Such funding can create new jobs and stimulate growth of small
companies.
EU ENLARGEMENT
The European Commission has recommended that ten
countries from East and Central Europe should be considered for full
membership of the EU in 2004. Such an enlargement of the EU will increase
its population from 360 to 450 million, compared to 300 million in the USA!
Enlargement will bring peace, democracy and prosperity to
these nations. However, it will pose two major problems for existing EU
Member States. The EU has 9 million farmers. Poland alone has 2 million
farmers. Farmers in accession countries will expect agricultural subsidies
on an equal basis. This is not possible without a huge increase in the EU
budget so the new Members will have to accept a phased period for such
benefit.
The second problem relates to the free movement of labour.
With higher unemployment levels and lower incomes in these accession
countries, it is likely that many will be tempted to move from east to west.
Nobody knows what impact this would have on services for health, education
and housing in countries such as the UK.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EU?
Europe Direct is a new service which offers information
and answers to specific questions about the European Union.
Ring the FREEPHONE 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 and an
operator will provide direct responses to general enquiries and direct you
to the best source of advice for more detailed questions.
Visit their website: -
http://europa.eu.int/europedirect/en/about_en.html
ACTIVITIES
7 Sep Parliament Delegation visit to Armenia
13 Sep Rochford & Southend Dinner with IDS
14 Sep Norwich South & Mid Norfolk Ball
21 Sep Campaigning for Charles Rose, Bedford
22 Sep Countryside Alliance March, London
26Sep Addressed Faith Conference,Strasbourg
27 Sep Felixstowe Port meeting with Suffolk CC
4 Oct Addressed Health Conference, Gdansk
7-10 Oct Party Conference, Bournemouth
11 Oct Hosted SME Conference, Stansted
18 Oct Brentwood & Ongar Dinner
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