Focus Stories from Andrew Duff MEP

Covering the Shire Counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk, including Luton, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

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Focus stories
November 2000

Hi-tech challenge for East of England - Duff

Relief for Charity Shops

Lib Dems lead local government in Europe

MEP backs new EU Food Safety Authority

MEP backs Phone liberalisation

Andrew Duff MEP wins support for Charter of Fundamental Rights

Duff backs EU Incinerator clampdown

HI-TECH CHALLENGE FOR EAST OF ENGLAND - DUFF

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat Euro-MP for Eastern England, has warned that we are not playing to our strengths as a region.

Andrew Duff MEP said:

"Exploiting our regional strengths is the key to prosperity. Our biggest strength is the widest mix and largest concentration of science research and hi-tech industry in Europe.

"If anywhere is to become Europe's version of Silicon Valley it could be here. But it will not be here unless we can compete with Germany and France.

"We have to recognise what qualities and assets we need to cluster together to make a success of the hi-tech industries

"This means investing in the regional infrastructure, both road and rail, providing sustainable affordable housing and stopping the brain drain of graduates from the region. It also means working hard at regional development and in setting ourselves ambitious targets for growth.

"If we are successful in building on our strengths then we could make the East of England one of Europe's top regions to live and work."

RELIEF FOR CHARITY SHOPS

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat Euro-MP for Eastern England has welcomed moves in the European Parliament to exempt Charity Shops from new proposals to provide information on the goods they sell.

The Association of Charity Shops has claimed that their members could not provide information regarding the origin of second hand goods sold, and so could not fully comply with a new European Commission proposal aimed at making it easier to recall dangerous goods.

Liberal Democrat MEPs led successful move to remove Charity shops from this proposal and claimed that good sense had prevailed.

Andrew Duff MEP said:

"Everyone wants to protect consumers and the general sense of the European Commission's plan is widely supported.

"But charity shops are a special case.

"They are unique to Britain and Ireland, and I'm pleased that MEPs from across Europe have recognised this and rallied to ensure that their future is secure."

LIB DEMS LEAD LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN EUROPE

Andrew Duff MEP has welcomed the election of Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris White to chair the East of England's Europe Panel, the committee which handles the region's local government relationships with Brussels.

Welcoming the news, Mr Duff said: "The election of a Liberal Democrat to the chairmanship of the Region's Europe Panel is a further example of our leadership in making the East of England one of Europe's top regions.

Commenting on his election Cllr Chris White said: "Like it or not, Europe is an increasingly important factor for business and local government in the region. We need to make sure that continental Europe knows who we are, where we are and why they should invest here."

MEP BACKS NEW EU FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for Eastern England has welcomed the European Commission plans for a new Europe-wide Food Safety Authority as a breakthrough in restoring consumer confidence in the safety of food.

The new Authority would provide scientific information and advice on how best to deal with food safety emergencies such as the British BSE crisis and the Belgian dioxin scare.

Andrew Duff said; "Assuming that it is given the necessary power and resources and can win the confidence of consumers, a European Union Food Safety Authority can help to take much of the politics out of food hygiene. It is good to see the EU is putting the safety of consumers first. This is good news for all concerned."

MEP BACKS PHONE LIBERALISATION

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for Eastern England has backed new European legislation to break up BT's old telephone monopoly.

The new legislation will force BT to open up the last few meters of its cables to other phone companies. This will bring down the cost of local phone calls and internet connection, and reduce the number of pavements that have to be ripped up.

Andrew Duff said: "The EU is trying to create greater competition, a bigger market and lower prices. These moves, on which the Lib Dems took a strong lead in the European Parliament, are an essential building block of the interconnected and knowledge-based society we are trying to create.

"From now on, we can look forward to genuine competition in the telecoms industry and a healthy up-surge in use of the internet."

ANDREW DUFF MEP WINS SUPPORT FOR CHARTER ON FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

In a historic vote the European Parliament gave its assent to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

The ParliamentÕs co-author of the Charter, Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for the East of England, hailed the result as "a breakthrough for the European citizen".

He added: "The Charter helps to safeguard the citizen from any possible abuse of power by Brussels. It makes fundamental rights clear and visible for the first time, and will greatly improve things for victims of injustice in Europe.

"The Labour government is being overly cautious about the Charter, while the Tories stand and jeer on the sidelines. Only Liberal Democrats in Britain are getting stuck in to make Europe really work for the people."

DUFF BACKS EU INCINERATOR CLAMPDOWN

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for the East of England, has backed tight new European limits governing the emissions from household waste incinerators.

The new European rules will be up to ten times tighter than existing policy set by the Environment Agency in England, reducing the dioxin emissions permitted from municipal waste incinerators to just 0.1 nanograms per cubic metre of air.

Strict limits on emissions of heavy metals, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and hydrochloric acid will also be imposed by the EU Waste Incinerator Directive.

Andrew Duff said: "The construction of incinerators should always be regarded as a last resort, but these new rules should insure that any that are built do the least damage to the environment.

"Our first priority in Britain must be to raise waste recycling from its current abysmal level of eight per cent to the 60 per cent and more now being achieved in the Netherlands and other countries throughout Europe. Both Labour and the Tories have a dismal record on the environment."

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