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MEP
CANDIDATE SELECTION FOR 2004
Thank
you to all friends and supporters who gave up time at weekends to vote in
our Region's hustings. Whilst the single meeting in Newmarket in 1999
attracted almost 900 people, only a total of 544 people turned up at the
four venues this year. Essex had the highest turnout of 220.
Extraordinarily,
Robert Sturdy and I tied for second place with exactly the same number of
voting points (2219). Election rules for such a result dictate that the
choice should be made on the number of first choices. Robert scored 6 more
first choices than me and was placed second on the Eastern Region list. I
have accepted my position as the third candidate on the list and I am
extremely grateful to all my friends and supporters who worked so hard to
help me.
With
enlargement of the EU, our Region will have only 7 MEPs so we will all
have to work hard to secure a good turnout and a high Conservative vote to
ensure that the four incumbent Conservative MEPs are returned to Brussels.
NEW
HERBAL MEDICINES DIRECTIVE
Currently,
there are no specific safeguards on the quality and safety of unlicensed
herbal remedies in the UK. Anyone can buy these products without being
aware of important information on pharmacological action, adverse effects
and possible interactions with food, alcohol and prescription medicines.
Clearly, there is a need for both choice as well as public safety.
The
new Herbal Medicines Directive proposes to set up a special Committee
within the European Medicinal Evaluation Agency (EMEA) that will monitor
and advise on registration and licensing
of
traditional herbal medicines. There will be minimum standards for content
and quantity of ingredients. The labelling requirements will also cover
specification for therapeutic indication, route of administration, dosage
and adverse reactions. These measures will also discourage and eliminate
the unchecked presence of low-grade herbal products with little
therapeutic benefit.
People
in our region have nothing to fear from this new Directive. Once it has
been considered by the Council of Ministers, any amendments will return to
Parliament in Brussels/Strasbourg for a Second Reading. As a qualified
Pharmacist for 32 years, I will not hesitate to go an extra mile to ensure
an appropriate balance so that there is choice of availability as well as
safeguards for contents and labelling.
HELPING
BRITISH BUSINESS
Since
Labour came to power in 1997, British businesses have faced unnecessary
red tape and crippling direct and indirect taxation. This burden has
eroded their competitive edge and reduced domestic sales and UK exports.
As
a principal member of the Committee on Industry, Trade, Research and
Energy, I have analysed how British businesses can be freed from these
constraints. My current Parliamentary Report, "Impact
of the e-Economy on European Enterprises" examines the influence
of Internet Technology and its implications for the success of small
businesses.
The
report encourages financial incentives for small enterprises to acquire
and use the new technology, as well as to train their employees. It also
promotes drastic cuts in taxes, red tape and the burden of data
collection. Such measures will stimulate e-commerce and ensure that
Britain achieves greater productivity and manufactures high value added
products to compete globally.
I
have been invited by the European Commission to speak at their Conference
on the E-Economy and Small Businesses in Athens in January 2003.
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PERFUME
OR POISON?
The
European Commission wishes to force perfume manufacturers to declare all
ingredients on their packaging. Such declarations are alleged to enhance
consumer awareness of allergies and improve the safety of cosmetic
products.
Perfumeries
like Guerlain, Chanel and Patou are incensed that the EU intends to force
them to disclose their secret formulations!
Formulating
and packaging perfumes for sale is an art and only the best ingredients
and presentations win the hearts of young and old With high investment in
research and development, formulations and ingredient sources are trade
secrets.
Packaging
for Coke, Heineken, Fairy Liquid and Palmolive soap do not declare any
such formulations nor do they disclose the analysis of the perfumes or
flavouring oils they use.
How
can the EU implement such a ruling? How
will the EU monitor the hundreds of products imported by individual
travellers returning to the UK?
This is yet another bad proposal from the EU and I shall oppose it!
UK
WORKERS MUST HAVE FREE CHOICE!
The
European Parliament Directive on Temporary Agency Workers will hit the UK
more than other EU Member States as more than half of all EU temporary
workers (700,000) are in the UK. The Directive offers these temporary
workers the same rights (pay and conditions) as full time workers right
from day one of their employment.
The
impact of this would be devastating for UK agriculture, factories, hotels
and restaurants and a vast number of small family-run businesses.
Companies
are likely to reduce their use of temporary workers, putting an estimated
170,000 jobs at risk.
Others
will pass the cost on to consumers through higher prices and in all cases
employers
will hold down or reduce wages and benefits for existing full time
employees.
All
countries on the continent use temporary workers and many of them work on
very low wages, without contract and without registration for taxation.
More workers are exploited in these countries than in the UK where
temporary workers from agencies usually enjoy higher pay, flexibility of
hours and security of employment.
The
EU needs a Directive to regularise the temporary workers market on the
continent by encouraging temporary employment to be managed by agencies.
This will reduce the black economy in Italy, Greece, France, and Spain
among others, and reflect the true Gross Domestic Product and disposable
incomes of their citizens. However, I shall be opposing the latest
proposal, as it is not acceptable to Britain in its current form.
FAMINE
IN ETHIOPIA
The
Ethiopian Government have invited me to their country to assess the famine
and the state of the economy. I am scheduled to fly to Addis Ababa on 7thJanuary
2003. I have chosen to take an experienced Dutch Socialist MEP and the
Development Committee General Secretary with me to ensure that my Report
will have cross party support.
I
shall submit my full Report to the European Parliament in January 2003 so
that it can soon be adopted and actioned.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Maria
and I would like to wish all friends and supporters a very Happy Christmas
and a prosperous New Year!
FUTURE
ENGAGEMENTS
03
Jan Textile Industry Group, Melbourne, OZ
07
Jan Ethiopia Visit: Famine Assessment
16
Jan EU Business Seminar, Athens
17
Jan Mid-Norfolk Dinner with K. Simpson MP
23
Jan Development for the Poor (ACP), Brussels
30
Jan Breckland District Council Visit
30
Jan Address Royal Society of Chemists, UEA
31
Jan Food & Agriculture Mtg, Easton College
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