tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84773828090025260182024-03-05T12:32:35.196+01:00Glenis Willmott MEPWelcome to my blog. I am a Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands and Labour's leader in the European Parliament. This blog aims to provide a taste of the work of an MEP. I hope you will find it both interesting and useful.Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-67304577871942496072011-11-28T19:04:00.000+01:002011-11-28T19:04:57.951+01:00We have moved!My blog has now been moved to my new website at <strong><a href="http://gleniswillmott.eu/blog">gleniswillmott.eu/blog</a></strong>. All of my posts have been moved over to the new site.<br />
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You should be automatically redirected there in a few seconds. If not, please <strong><a href="http://gleniswillmott.eu/blog">click here</a></strong> to visit the new blog.Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-48584663826209725272011-11-25T14:33:00.000+01:002011-11-25T14:33:59.713+01:00Another step towards ending blacklisting of workers - but there is still much further to goTo guarantee standards of health and safety, workers need representation. When I <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-393.990+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN" target="_blank">drafted</a> the European Parliament's report on Health and Safety in 2007, I found that the presence of health and safety representatives in the workplace lowered the number of occupational accidents and diseases reported, and so any health and safety policy would need to encourage workers' participation.<br />
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But in many firms, particularly in sectors such as construction, workers can face discrimination and even dismissal for representing their colleagues in this way. The practice of "blacklisting" - where workers may be refused employment by employers across the whole sector - is a serious problem, despite the fact that it is is illegal in the UK. The result of this is that some people have been unable to work for decades, simply because they have tried to improve the working conditions of their peers.<br />
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The issue of blacklisting was brought to me by an East Midlands constituent of mine and by the <a href="http://www.hazards.org/blacklistblog/" target="_blank">Blacklist Support Group</a>, who have worked hard to campaign against the illegal practice.<br />
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So I am delighted that this week, the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/wps-europarl-internet/frd/vod/player?eventCode=20111122-1500-COMMITTEE-EMPL&language=en&byLeftMenu=researchcommittee&category=COMMITTEE&format=wmv#anchor1" target="_blank">called</a> for an end to blacklisting of employees through tougher sanctions for offending employers, thanks in large part to the work of Labour MEP Stephen Hughes. The Committee also called for greater protection for those who blow the whistle about health and safety risks in their workplace. The call, agreed on a cross-party basis, forms part of the Committee's report on the EU's Health and Safety Strategy, and is likely to be adopted by the full Parliament next year.<br />
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This followed <a href="http://gleniswillmott.blogspot.com/2011/09/tobacco-smoke-and-discrimination.html">my own earlier attempt</a> to adopt such a call into in the Committee on Environment, Food and Public Health, which also discussed the report on the Health and Safety Strategy. <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-473.822+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN" target="_blank">My amendment (no. 22)</a>, which similarly called for a change in the law to end blacklisting, was unfortunately unsuccessful - because the ALDE group of MEPs on the Committee, which includes the Liberal Democrats, decided as a group to join with centre-right MEPs and block the amendment. I am pleased that MEPs on the EMPL committee have not done the same.<br />
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Once Parliament adopts the report, the onus will be on the European Commission to respond to Parliament's call and bring forward a change in the law. My Labour colleagues and I will keep working to maintain the pressure on the Commission to do this. This week was an important step towards an end to blacklisting, but there we still have much further to go.Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-87101812380027410852011-11-23T17:04:00.001+01:002011-11-24T14:33:35.387+01:00Recession depressionThis week an <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/21/one-in-four-women-psych-meds?fb_action_ids=10150366496330703%2C671708141579%2C671589728879%2C10150366511235703&fb_action_types=news.reads&fb_ref=U-RGQS9X7j9sw64dJvIUdoBH-CFCONX01FRS-33gd9XXX%2C">article in the Guardian</a> highlighted the shocking fact that a quarter of all US women are taking anti-depressants or other medications for mental disorders. Unfortunately the picture in Europe is very similar, with the UK and Ireland also dishing out high quantities of anti-depressants, and the rest of Europe following suit. <br />
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There are two questions that need to be addressed; whether medication is the best way to deal with mental illness, and why people are feeling increasingly depressed and anxious. <br />
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The debate between psychiatry and psychology is an old one; are mental illnesses best treated with medication or with counselling? Obviously each case has to be looked at individually, but in general it does seem that we are moving towards a 'quick-fix' culture of using anti-depressants, when actually the many root causes of depression need to be addressed. These can range from social exclusion, isolation, drug or alcohol use, poverty, grief, physical disease or stress at work. Pharmaceutical companies can make big profits out of anti-depressants, whilst providing counselling and support for somebody going through a difficult phase in their life can be challenging and expensive.<br />
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And the problem is getting worse. During these incredibly difficult economic times we have become used to hearing figures being thrown about - GDP falling here, national debt increasing there, interest rates rising everywhere - but much more shocking are the statistics on the human cost of the crisis. In Greece, for example, suicide rates have <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15334586">increased by 40%</a> this year as jobs, wages and pensions are cut. Normal families are finding it difficult to cope under the extreme austerity measures imposed by right wing governments across Europe, and it is no surprise that depression and other mental disorders are on the rise. <br />
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This is an issue I'm looking at in the European Parliament and I will be hosting an event in the new year focusing on the effects of the economic crisis on mental health. In the meantime we have to ensure that the economic decisions we make are mindful of the huge implications they can have on people's health and wellbeing.Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-59449361536169653072011-11-22T14:51:00.002+01:002011-11-22T18:12:33.034+01:00An emotional meeting with sufferers of SCIDLast Saturday, I met Jack and Guy along with their parents to talk about Severe Combined Immunodeficiency(SCID. Both Jack, aged 7 and Guy, aged 6, suffered from SCID when they were both around four months old. <br />
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When Jack and Guy were born, they were, as far as their parents were concerned, healthy new born babies. But the joy of their new arrivals was brought to an abrupt end, when their children became very ill in a very short period of time.<br />
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Both children were diagnosed with SCID and were taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where they were treated by Professor Bobby Gaspar, who is a leading expert in the disease, and was also present at the meeting.<br />
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Guy was flown by helicopter, and Jack rushed to London in an ambulance. Both parents became very emotional as they described the agony of seeing their baby taken into the care of medical staff, not knowing if they would see them alive again. <br />
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Jack’s parents told me how they set off in the car to London, only to get stuck in traffic, as they saw the blue lights of a Leicestershire ambulance approach from behind, knowing that Jack was fighting for his life inside, and that there was nothing they could do to help.<br />
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Severe Combined Immunodeficiency affects many children across Europe, and a simple screening test at birth could prevent the pain and anguish children and their parents go through. <br />
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The test costs around 3 pounds to carry out, and there will be an initial set up cost of 2 Million pounds. This may seem like a large amount of money during the current financial crisis, but it is an investment that will pay for itself, especially when you consider that it costs thousands of pounds per day to look after a sick child in intensive care.<br />
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Jack and Guy’s story was difficult to listen to at times, and when Guy told the meeting that he thought he would die, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.<br />
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I am fully behind the campaign to have all new-born children screened for SCID, and will do all I can to make it happen. Because listening to Jack and Guy’s story, and knowing that their suffering could have been prevented, is enough for me to take action.Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-33716951920796365712011-11-21T19:20:00.003+01:002011-11-21T19:24:22.572+01:00Crisis for social democracyThere are 27 member states in the European Union. Just one – Slovenia – has a majority social democrat government, following the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15809062" target="_blank">crushing defeat</a> at the weekend of the Spanish Socialists. With Greece’s PASOK government also being replaced in recent weeks by the technocrats of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/10/lucas-papademos-greece-interim-coalition" target="_blank">Lucas Papademos</a>, these are sorry days for progressive politics.<br />
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Apart from Slovenia, there are 5 others – Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland and Luxembourg – where social democrats are members of ruling coalitions. Yet in 1999, 13 out of the then 15 governments in the European Union came from the centre left.<br />
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At a time when capitalism – or at least major parts of it – is clearly not giving people what they want; when bankers & financiers continue to take unwarranted bonuses while small businesses and ordinary people are crying out for loans and mortgages, and when economic growth is miniscule if measurable at all, this ought to be the left’s opportunity.<br />
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Following World War II, social democracy was the key player in creating more civilised, more egalitarian societies based on a combination of communal services and individual rights. It largely defined what became acceptable in terms of the public provision of health, education, pensions and reasonable working hours.<br />
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Yet, after around a century of universal suffrage across the continent, social democracy is getting the thumbs down from millions of people.<br />
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So, the crisis of Europe’s economies is also a crisis for the centre-left, and it cannot be solved by better branding or slightly different policy agendas. As I said in <a href="#conference-speech-2011">my speech</a> to Labour Party Conference in September, we must actually rethink social democracy.<br />
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The re-thinking must come from all parts of the Labour movement and beyond; from trade unions, from intellectuals and academics, from practising politicians, from activists, from single interest groups.<br />
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But we also need to learn together with socialists and social democrats in France, Spain & Germany, because the answers in a globalised society will be international ones.<br />
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People do still aspire to a society based on fairness, on a wider distribution of wealth and income, and on working together to achieve a better world for themselves and their children. It is up to social democrats to meet these aspirations.<br />
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<a href="" name="conference-speech-2011"></a><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f1ShncUs8t8" width="420"></iframe>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-84107417627549175482011-11-18T16:07:00.000+01:002011-11-18T16:07:44.033+01:00The next President must call for an end to the European Parliament's costly "travelling circus" - and so must David CameronThis week was another busy week in Strasbourg, Parliament's second seat. Due to a stipulation in the Treaties which govern the European Union, all 736 MEPs and many hundreds of staff members must decamp from Brussels to the Alsatian capital for the Parliament's monthly plenary session.<br />
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This "travelling circus" costs the taxpayer nearly £175 million and produces an extra 19,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. At a time when public spending is under pressure across Europe and when <a href="http://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/gpes/public/detail.htm?id=136307&section=NER&category=NEWS&startpos=5&topicid=-1&request_locale=EN" target="_blank">urgent international action</a> is needed on climate change, all of this is not just unnecessary, but is potentially also damaging to people and their livelihoods.<br />
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The majority agree. Nearly 70% of MEPs who responded to a survey in 2010 thought that all of Parliament's plenary sessions should be held in Brussels, not in Strasbourg. More importantly, nearly 1.3 million Europeans have signed a <a href="http://www.oneseat.eu/" target="_blank">petition</a> to end these needless costs and allow the Parliament to have a single seat in Brussels.<br />
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That is why I have co-signed the <a href="http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/next-eu-president-urged-to-back-single-seat-campaign/" target="_blank">Official Seat Pledge</a>, and why I have been calling on many of my colleagues in the Socialist Group and across Parliament to do the same. As various candidates line up to run for the Presidency of the European Parliament, we are calling on them to promise that they will push for a single seat for the Parliament. With the President's support, Parliament will be able to request a change to the Treaties which govern Parliament's official seat.<br />
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As I <a href="http://gleniswillmott.blogspot.com/2011/03/single-seat.html">wrote</a> earlier this year, I led an initiative to cut down on the number of Strasbourg trips, by condensing the two September sessions in to a single week. Whilst this would not be an end to the Strasbourg carousel, it would at least reduce the costs and the workloads involved for now (though the decision is currently being challenged in the courts by the French Government).<br />
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However, the agreement of all national governments, including the UK's, will be needed to change the Treaties. Unfortunately, the Tory-led Government has flip-flopped on the issue. In <a href="http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/uk-government-backs-one-seat-campaign-for-eu-parliament/" target="_blank">May this year</a>, David Cameron supported the One Seat campaign. Yet in September, in a behind-the-scenes deal, he <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/8788649/David-Cameron-betrayed-MEPs-on-Strasbourg.html" target="_blank">betrayed</a> his own MEPs - not to mention UK taxpayers - and withdrew his support.<br />
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Strasbourg is a symbolic and historic city, having been at the centre of conflict in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is right that we recognise that by having important European institutions in the city, such as the Council of Europe (not part of the EU), the EU's Ombudsman, and perhaps further institutions in the future.<br />
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But at such a high economic and environmental cost, a second seat for the European Parliament is not the right way to do this. If we are to put an end to the Parliament's costly to-ing and fro-ing between two cities, David Cameron needs to think again and act in the interests of UK and European citizens - rather than his own.Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-65141931633120282432011-11-16T16:08:00.000+01:002011-11-16T16:08:51.168+01:00Unemployment - Ministers must stop the blame game.Earlier today, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released the latest unemployment figures. The statistics show that unemployment has risen to 2.62 million, but more worryingly, the youth unemployment rate has hit the 1 million mark. Overall, this means that unemployment has increased to 8.3%.<br />
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In the finest tradition of this Tory led government, the Employment Minister, Chris Grayling blamed someone else for the worst figures in 17 years – This time, it wasn’t the previous Labour government, the weather or a Royal wedding, but the economic crisis in the Eurozone. <br />
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It appears that Ministers, in their attempt to spin their way out of these disastrous figures, have forgotten the first rule of economics, that unemployment is a lagging indicator of the economy, and so cannot be blamed on a financial crisis that only started during the summer. <br />
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Mr Grayling’s assertion that the Eurozone is to blame is a work of pure fiction. The government’s own statistics show that unemployment was going up before the economic crisis in Europe started, showing a rise from 2.45 million in the three months from March to May, to 2.57 million from June to August. <br />
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So once again the government fails to take responsibility for its own actions. The economic crisis in the Eurozone will inevitably have an impact on the UK, but David Cameron and his Ministers need to start taking responsibility for the decisions that they make and stop blaming everyone else for their failing economic policies.Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-7594069516552678502011-11-14T19:27:00.000+01:002011-11-14T19:27:19.946+01:00The healthy chocolate doughnut?More and more people want to make healthy choices in terms of the food they eat, but when deciding which food should go in the shopping trolley it can get a bit confusing. A certain brand of breakfast cereal might be 'fortified with vitamins and iron' but actually contain around 40% sugar. And a 'low fat' brand of crackers might actually be extremely high in salt. Then, of course, you have the foods that 'boost your immune system' or 'lower your cholesterol', but can these claims be trusted?<br />
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That is why MEPs and European governments agreed the Health Claims Regulation, which should ensure that all the claims you see on food are scientifically verified. The European Food Safety Authority is currently assessing the huge amount of claims manufacturers want to use, and have so far found that only around 20% have a sound scientific basis and should be allowed. The rest will soon be illegal, which just goes to show how many unfounded and misleading claims exist on the market.<br />
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Another part of the regulation was to ensure that health claims were not used on foods that are, on balance, unhealthy. This involves setting limits on the amount of fat, saturates, sugar and salt that can be in a product bearing a health claim. However, we are still waiting for the European Commission to come forward with these maximum amounts. In the meantime we could have manufacturers marketing a chocolate doughnut as 'healthy' because of the fibre it contains, or vitamins that have been added to it. I have been calling for these maximum limits to be set for years, but in a recent exchange of letters with the Commission it is clear that there is still no concrete date.<br />
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In the meantime shoppers should make use of consumer-friendly schemes such as the traffic light system used in many supermarkets which allows you to see how high or low a product is in fat, saturates, salt and sugar at a glance. Unfortunately, for the timebeing, some of these health claims need to be taken with a pinch of salt.Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-59457781225424706002011-11-11T15:45:00.002+01:002011-11-11T15:45:51.231+01:00Berlusconi loses his job, but the real tragedy is the thousands of normal Italians losing theirsDrama is unfolding across Europe today as Greece swears in a new Prime Minister and Italy awaits Berlusconi's official resignation. The rising Italian interest rate has meant debts have become uncontrollable for the EU's third largest economy, and the Senate today approved the drastic austerity measures demanded by the European Union. <br />
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It is an extremely worrying time for ordinary Greek and Italian people who are seeing widespread job losses, rising retirement ages, and diminishing standards of living. Sadly it will be these normal hard-working families who bear the brunt of the 'punishment' right wing governments across Europe want to inflict on Eurozone members with high debts. <br />
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Because we have to remember that it's not 'Brussels' trying to entrench austerity across Europe, it's the vast majority of EU countries which are run by right-wing parties, and the large number of right-wing European Commissioners we have. Unfortunately the Social Democrats in the European Parliament are at their lowest ebb ever too. The likes of Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy and David Cameron are in power in Europe, and all think that drastic cuts are the answer to the current crisis.<br />
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We can see from our own economy that cuts alone do not work - the UK was recovering strongly up until summer 2010 when it ground to a halt as the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition embarked on its austerity programme. What we really need is to focus on growth and long term solutions for the Eurozone, as well as showing some solidarity with our European neighbours. Because it is clear, if the Eurozone fails, our economy will be dragged down with it. And if we don't invest in jobs then unemployment, especially among young people, will continue to rise along with our debts. <br />
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One way we could generate some capital to invest in our future would be a financial transaction tax, which would ensure that those responsible for the crisis contribute to clearing up the mess. Bonuses continue to be paid out and large profits continue to be made by the financial sector while the rest of society suffers. Support is growing for a global or EU-wide Robin Hood tax, and George Osborne is becoming an increasingly lone voice in opposing it.<br />
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Alongside the financial transaction tax, the European Parliament is also looking at Eurobonds. These would allow Eurozone countries to benefit from cheaper loan rates by spreading the risk across all Eurozone countries, preventing excessive debts such as the ones we are seeing in Italy. And Britain must not stand on the sidelines as we negotiate these measures; we might not be in the Eurozone but it cannot be denied that we are all at risk if Greece or Italy defaults.<br />
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The right's answer to the crisis is not working, and we need to make sure the Labour Party and our allies across Europe have a strong voice in fighting for a more prosperous and fair economy.Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-54897708307322846192011-10-26T14:18:00.001+02:002011-10-26T14:20:36.439+02:00Parliament calls for new public contracts rules - but that doesn't let the Government off the hookAs my constituents are only too aware, the Tory-led Government's decision on Thameslink this summer will cost up to 1,400 jobs directly, and many thousands more indirectly in the region.<br />
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This major public contract was awarded to the lowest-cost bidder, without taking into account wider social and economic factors.<br />
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So yesterday in Strasbourg, I welcomed the European Parliament's call for tougher new rules for public procurement.<br />
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When a public contract is awarded, MEPs have said that the lowest price should no longer be the main factor in deciding which bid is successful. Instead, social, economic and environmental benefits should always be considered and standards should be driven up in areas such as quality of employment and sustainability.<br />
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Whilst new legislation is desperately needed, this doesn't let the Government off the hook. Even under the current rules, the Government could have chosen to take into account a number of economic and social criteria, rather than opting for the 'lowest-cost only' option.<br />
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The Government could also have chosen to start the process again from scratch, with better social and economic criteria. As a Director General of the European Commission confirmed, this would have been permissible under the existing procurement law - but the Government have refused to do so.<br />
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MEPs are calling for the European Commission to put new social procurement rules into the legislation it will be bringing forward earlier this year. I am also calling on the Commission to make sure all Governments make full use of these new rules. A repeat of the disastrous Thameslink decision must not be allowed.Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-52301834789074162562011-10-25T14:53:00.000+02:002011-10-25T14:53:08.081+02:00Our priority should be jobs - not a referendum that would put jobs at risk<div align="left"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once again we have been forced to witness an out-of-touch <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15425256">Conservative Party tearing itself apart</a> over <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>. The government was always going to win the EU referendum vote, and Parliament has made the right decision. But David Cameron has been weakened both at home and abroad, at a time when what we really need is strong leadership.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the current economic climate, the number one priority of all politicians should be boosting jobs and tackling the grave economic situation we face. <st1:country-region u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A referendum on <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s membership of the European Union would not generate a single long-term job or do anything to help hard working families who are struggling to make ends meet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, if we seriously considered giving up our place in the most powerful trading bloc in the world, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Britain</st1:country-region> would jeopardise its position as a credible world player and put foreign investment into the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> at risk. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if the Eurosceptics were to win such a referendum, helped by the disproportionately anti-European press, it would be disastrous. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Approximately 3.5 million British jobs depend on <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:country-region u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region></st1:country-region></st1:place></st1:country-region>'s access to the single market, and if we do not have a voice at the table where the common rules for that market are made, we will <a href="http://gleniswillmott.blogspot.com/2011/10/why-cant-we-be-like-norway.html">end up like Norway</a>, implementing all European laws without having any say on their content.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the last few months, whilst the Conservative Party have been indulging in naval-gazing and internal disputes, Labour MEPs have been working hard to pass laws on bankers' bonuses, secure long term reform of the financial services sector, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>reduce data roaming charges and secure new rights for Brits who fall victim to crime in other EU countries. In order to get these results we actively and positively engage with our colleagues from different countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David Cameron needs to be doing the same. The Eurozone crisis is our crisis too - but, having lost credibility with his counterparts, the Prime Minister is not showing the leadership we need. At the last European Summit Nicolas Sarkosy is reported to have told Cameron to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/23/cameron-sarkozy-euro-debt-crisis?newsfeed=true">stop "interfering"</a>. He desperately needs to focus on rebuilding relations with other EU leaders to deliver a stable solution to the Eurozone crisis. Jobs depend on it, and that is what really matters to the British people.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-41064474353792027792011-10-24T11:19:00.000+02:002011-10-24T11:19:48.805+02:00Dog blog for found hounds & merrier terriers<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">As UK MEPs we receive a pretty regular postbag on various animal welfare issues.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">But it’s obviously not just Britain which is a nation of animal lovers.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">With the majority of MEPs across the 27 Members States recently signing a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/plenary/writtenDecl.do?language=EN">Written Declaration</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> on the way </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P7-DCL-2011-0026+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN">dogs are treated</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> in the EU, a clear message has been sent to the European Commission to come up with some new policies to address a serious problem. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Historically, there have been huge differences in animal welfare across the countries of Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The treatment of animals has, for the most part, been the responsibility of the member state, rather than the EU. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, until 1997, under EU law, animals were actually treated as goods rather than live creatures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was new EU treaties, however, which changed this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Amsterdam Treaty of 1997 introduced the concept of animals as “sentient beings”, and the much maligned <a href="http://www.ciwf.org.uk/news/compassion_news/the_lisbon_treaty_recognising_animal_sentience.aspx">Treaty of Lisbon actually incorporates this</a> directly as an Article of the Treaty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, it has made it possible to introduce much more legislation about the way we treat animals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Written Declaration supported by Parliament calls for compulsory micro-chipping of dogs along with an effective and reliable system of dog registration. This is not only crucial for successful animal health & welfare management, but should also lead to reuniting stray dogs with their owners, help prevent the illegal puppy trade and would allow better prevention of disease through vaccination, thus protecting human public health, as well as the health of our pets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And through a more considered approach to controlling dog population through systematic neutering and educational strategies and programmes, we can prevent the awful killing of healthy animals, as has <a href="http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/mediacentre/newsreleases/pr11romaniarelease.aspx">taken place in Romania</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Having been one of the early signatories to the Declaration, I’m delighted it has gained such support from Parliament. </span>Dog-lovers everywhere now await some positive proposals from the European Commission.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-76020911793463880392011-10-21T11:18:00.000+02:002011-10-21T11:18:45.330+02:00Why can’t we be like Norway?<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Amidst dire threats of three line whips, potential resignations, and cries of “Britain out,” the Tories will get to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15354203">debate their favourite topic</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> in Westminster next week.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Like moths to a flame, Conservative MPs seem unable to keep away from arguments about Europe, an issue which has been a source of huge divisions amongst right wingers for thirty years.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have little doubt that, somewhere in the debate, we will hear the hoary old question; “Why can’t we be like Norway?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Able to go their own way, not beholden to the Brussels bureaucrats, not subject to all that red tape, surely Norway is the answer?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Well, because it’s not quite as sim</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">ple as that.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week in Brussels, I actually had a meeting with representatives of the Norwegian government (Labour by the way, so maybe the Tories don’t want to be exactly like Norway).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They weren’t there to offer me political asylum from the austerity measures of our Coalition government, or indeed to discuss the Nobel Peace prize.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They actually wanted my help in changing two pieces of EU legislation; the <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/health/tobacco/consultations/tobacco_cons_01_en.htm">tobacco</a></span><span style="color: black;"> products and </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/avpolicy/reg/avms/index_en.htm">audio visual</a></span><span style="color: black;"> directives.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their specific concerns need not detain us here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But why would Norway – a country outside the EU – be worried about EU law?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quite simply because, as a member of the European Economic Area, which has favoured trading status with the EU, Norway has to conform to EU laws.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve heard it referred to as “government by fax.”, though I’m sure there is a modern internet based equivalent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means receiving new laws in government offices in Oslo without the opportunity, or indeed the power, to influence the content of the laws emanating from Brussels. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The European Union goes through its lengthy and considered democratic process involving all 27 member states and their European MPs, leading to the eventual consensus agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile Norway has no say in any of this but has to do what the law says!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So to the Tory MPs who even now are planning their Commons speeches and preparing for their finest hour, a gentle word of advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By all means argue that we should be like Norway – but at least recognise that it would mean having to put up with what the EU – without any input from the UK - would demand of us, assuming we wanted to trade with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And it would mean representatives of the British Government arranging meetings with French, German, Italian or Latvian MEPs to ask for their help. </span>Perhaps not quite what the “Britain Out” fanatics are after!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-44947054059209438712011-10-20T11:39:00.001+02:002011-10-21T11:19:44.702+02:00Fox on the run highlights lobby activity<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15358660">Liam Fox affair</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in the UK has once again highlighted lobbying activity and its role in the democratic process.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You’ll generally find lobbyists towards the bottom of the popularity league table, along with the usual suspects such as estate agents, journalists, bankers, . . .and of course politicians.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like death and taxes, lobbyists will always be with us. So, are they undemocratic propagandists with only the interests of their lords and masters to consider, ready to use any means to get their way, or, as the European Parliament website suggests, do they “provide Parliament with knowledge and specific expertise in numerous economic, social, environmental and scientific areas.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only rule seems to be that there are no rules. For every example I’ve come across where lobbying has been partial, obstructive and anti-progressive, there is another, where the lobbying can provide important insights to help effective legislation.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was working on new food labelling laws earlier this year, <a href="http://www.newint.org/features/2011/01/01/10-worst-corporate-lobbyists/">a reputed €1 billion was spent by the food industry</a> opposing new rules for front of pack labelling, for traffic lights and for other improvements all called for by consumer and health groups and clearly demanded by the vast majority of customers.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, a more recent lobby, by members of the National Farmers Union in the East Midlands, was a useful contribution to the debate about the <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/cap-post-2013/index_en.htm">new proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy</a>, and helped me – a non-farmer – to clarify the issues in my own mind while increasing my awareness of the situation facing a particular group of my constituents.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the European Parliament, <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/expert/staticDisplay.do?id=65">new rules for lobbyists</a> came in earlier this year, and while it remains to be seen how effective the new regime will be in regulating lobbying behaviour, there have been some important improvements. For example, there is now a <span lang="EN"><a href="http://europa.eu/transparency-register/index_en.htm">lobby register</a>, which clarifies who they are, what their interests are, as well as requiring them to provide a limited amount of financial information. Above all, we have established a code of conduct for lobbyists, with access denied to Parliament as well as adverse publicity if the code is broken. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We've taken action here in the European Parliament, and it's time David Cameron <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15333707">finally put forward some proposals</a> for how the</span><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"> UK Parliament regulates lobbyists</span></span>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-15917694942108021042011-10-14T10:40:00.000+02:002011-10-14T10:40:18.261+02:00Plain packets for cigarettes?<div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week the Australian Senate <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/10/12/uk-australia-smoking-idUKTRE79B0XS20111012" title="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/10/12/uk-australia-smoking-idUKTRE79B0XS20111012">delayed a vote</a> on standardised packaging for cigarette<span class="866030517-13102011">s</span> after intense pressure from tobacco lobbyists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The EU, too, should be considering proposals on plain packaging but it's the same story; extreme pressure from the pro-tobacco lobby has meant the European Commission has delayed the proposals until April 2012 at the earliest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is not acceptable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a real appetite to start work on the revision of the <a href="http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/public_health/health_determinants_lifestyle/c11567_en.htm" title="http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/public_health/health_determinants_lifestyle/c11567_en.htm">Tobacco Products Directive</a>, which regulates how cigarettes and other forms of tobacco can be packaged, and what can be put inside them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've been working with a huge range of health and consumer groups, including the <a href="http://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/campaigning/tobacco.aspx" title="http://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/campaigning/tobacco.aspx">British Heart Foundation</a> and <a href="http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/healthyliving/smokingandtobacco/howdoweknow/" title="http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/healthyliving/smokingandtobacco/howdoweknow/">Cancer Research UK</a>, to promote policies which will actually reduce the amount of tobacco we use in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> and across <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tobacco is the biggest cause of preventable deaths globally, it kills one in ten people worldwide and half of all smokers will be killed by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the damage it causes costs EU countries <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/Tobacco/Documents/tobacco_fr_en.pdf" title="http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/Tobacco/Documents/tobacco_fr_en.pdf">100 billion euro a year</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to get on with changing our laws to help people quit and stop young people from smoking in the first place. That is why today I sent a letter to the President of the European Commission, co-signed by 21 NGOs and charities, major pharmaceutical companies and 27 other MEPs from different political parties all over <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>, to urge for the proposals to be brought forward.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once MEPs start work I will be fighting to see standardised packaging for tobacco products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tobacco industry themselves have admitted that the cigarette packet is the last possible place for them to advertise on, and there are some obvious examples of branding being used to make cigarettes look 'milder' or less harmful, or to specifically appeal to young people or women, such as the ultra-feminine <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.tobaccoonline.co.uk/images/products/1217200835932AMvogue-lilas-cigarettes.jpg" title="http://www.tobaccoonline.co.uk/images/products/1217200835932AMvogue-lilas-cigarettes.jpg">Vogue</a></i> brand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So called 'plain' packaging would not just be a white box, but instead green or brown coloured with a large pictorial health warning, and the brand name in a standard font. They would be no easier for counterfeiters to copy <span class="866030517-13102011">than</span> a current packet. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll keep pushing the Commission so that MEPs can start this important work, and in the meantime I wish Australian Health Minister Nicola Roxon every success with her attempts to protect the health of Australian citizens.</span></div></div>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-35342647933238623672011-10-12T19:10:00.002+02:002011-10-12T19:10:38.405+02:00Real life 'Lassie dogs' detect epileptic fits<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I hosted an event in the European Parliament on epilepsy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a chair of the Parliament's Health Sub-Committee I chose to focus on this neurological disorder which affects around 1 in 100 people in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> and across the EU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyone can develop epilepsy at any time in their life but it is most commonly diagnosed in children and people over 65. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An epileptic fit is a very frightening experience for the sufferer and there is often no warning of when it will happen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what we heard today was that specially trained dogs can warn epilepsy sufferers of an upcoming seizure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dogs can quite literally be life savers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The danger from an epileptic fit is not actually the condition itself, it is from the environment in which the fit takes place. Patients will often smash their heads against objects or fall down stairs. These dogs can predict an epileptic fit up to an hour before an attack happens, therefore allowing the patient to get to a place of safety. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was surprised to learn that the dogs can also reduce the amount and intensity of the fits - amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The benefits to sufferers of epilepsy are vast, however, there are benefits to the NHS too, which saves money and time because the patient doesn’t have to have an ambulance called or make a hospital visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were given this presentation by an expert from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Croatia</st1:country-region>, but the dogs are also specially trained by Epilepsy Action in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I hope today's meeting helped raise awareness across all of <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> for this fantastic practice which can be a real help and comfort to people affected by epilepsy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-72348751302309115762011-10-06T12:05:00.000+02:002011-10-06T12:05:18.920+02:00Doctors must be able to communicate with their patients<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday I spoke to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tt0f">BBC Record Europe</a> about possible EU rule changes to ensure doctors are proficient in English before being allowed to practice in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This comes after a small number of very serious incidents, including the case of David Grey, killed by a painkiller overdose prescribed by a German doctor previously refused work due to his poor English skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some blamed the current European Professional Qualifications Directive for preventing employers from refusing to let a doctor practice based on their language skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That simply isn't true, in fact the current Directive states that they must have the language skills necessary to perform their duties in whichever EU country they are working in.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, it does highlight the need to make the European rules stronger to ensure that these kinds of mistakes can never be made again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently it is up to the individual employer to make a judgement on whether a doctor has the necessary language abilities, so we need to look at a more comprehensive system of assessing language skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The European Commission has published a green paper with ideas to update the Directive, and the European Parliament has also been voting on the ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my Labour MEP colleagues I will be supporting stricter controls on language assessment to make sure all healthcare professionals can communicate effectively with their patients and colleagues.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will also be calling for a robust alert system so that when a doctor is struck off in one country, they are not allowed to put more lives at risk in another EU country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whilst we wait for European rules to be improved the NHS needs to be able to communicate and share information effectively about the suitability of doctors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However their ability to do this is one of many things that Andrew Lansley's breaking up of the health service is putting in jeopardy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course we need a balanced approach and any rule changes should not discriminate against highly skilled and much needed healthcare professionals from around the EU, who provide a valuable service to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, communication with patients is key to the work of any healthcare professional and we need to make sure we are only employing people who can work safely and effectively in the British health service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-69342270974538190532011-10-03T16:18:00.003+02:002011-10-06T12:12:49.585+02:00Tory Euro MPs declare war on Cameron<div class="MsoPlainText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Tories being split over Europe is not exactly breaking news, but the most <a href="http://tinyurl.com/68tyybf">recent spat</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is breaking some new ground. An unholy alliance of Tory and Liberal Democrat Euro MPs is hammering David Cameron over his latest bit of (in) action.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some months ago the European Parliament overwhelmingly voted to cut back on the amount of time they spent in Strasbourg. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6jzqqur">The cost</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> of the two seat arrangement, where once a month, the Parliament heads some 220 miles down the road to Strasbourg from its main base in Brussels, and costs in excess of £150m per year.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This <a href="http://tinyurl.com/5vyv5bj">hasn't gone down well with the French</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> government for whom Strasbourg has a symbolic significance (though losing the Parliament would cost the local economy too), and has taken the European Parliament to court.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You would have thought that with Cameron's pronouncement on the expense of Strasbourg and promises to reform the EU that he would have sided with the Parliament, but he hasn’t. The date has now passed when the UK Government can object to the French action and so a pretty vitriolic letter has winged its way from the Group of Tory MEPs to Downing Street accusing Cameron of ‘betrayal’.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liberal Democrat MEPs are also unhappy and are backing the Tories on this issue. This is very uncommon, as Tories and Lib Dems in Europe do not share the cosy relationship that they do in the UK, in fact quite the opposite.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">None of this, however, comes as any great surprise to Labour MEPs. After all, Tory Governments have form in this area. Indeed, it was a British Tory PM, John Major who signed up under the Maastricht treaty in 1992 - to having twelve sessions a year in Strasbourg <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6czch24">in the first place</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As someone who co-signed <a href="http://tinyurl.com/63pwfpt">the original resolution</a> to restrict the times we upped sticks and moved lock stock and barrel to Strasbourg, I'm disgusted at Cameron’s timidity to do the right thing, but not as surprised as his own MEPs seem to be.</span></div>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-20118948610431495902011-09-30T11:57:00.001+02:002011-09-30T16:36:50.112+02:00Labour Party provides an alternative in Britain and Europe<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s been an interesting week at party conference. As it becomes ever clearer that the British economy is being choked rather than resuscitated by austerity, we in the Labour Party need to provide an alternative. Ed Miliband’s excellent speech on Tuesday clearly outlined that we must focus on growth to survive this crisis, and the Tory-led government’s brutal cuts just aren’t working. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And they’re not working elsewhere in Europe either. When <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1ShncUs8t8&feature=youtube_gdata">I spoke to conference</a> on Monday as the leader of Labour MEPs, I wanted to make it clear that the deepening financial crisis in the Eurozone is not about a failure of Europe, but a failure of the right wing politicians who currently dominate the European Commission, Council and Parliament. Just as Ed is fighting for an alternative in Britain, we need to work together with our colleagues in the EU to find a solution for all of Europe. It is crucial that we don’t turn our backs on Europe when they need us most, because if the Eurozone fails, we fail. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the interest in European matters this conference was astounding. Our Europe reception on Monday night was one of the most popular all week, with about 900 people attending and a huge queue outside the door. We also held three fringe events, all of which were packed and it was fantastic to see so many people engage in European issues. Richard Howitt and Claude Moraes used their experience on foreign affairs and migration at our event on the Arab Spring, and Arlene McCarthy and Peter Skinner, our leads on economic affairs, were impressive at our event on financial reform. I took part in our joint event with the GMB union on why austerity is not the answer, Linda McAvan spoke passionately at the Labour Movement for Europe fringe and Mary Honeyball hosted an event on women in power. It was great to have the expertise of Labour MEPs on show.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we leave conference I’m encouraged to have seen that despite the huge challenges we face, both in Britain and in Europe, the Labour Party is the only party that has hope for the future and a commitment to working together, not apart. </span></div>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-24979585469427029212011-09-28T16:53:00.003+02:002011-09-30T11:52:30.758+02:00Let's not turn our back on Europe<span style="font-size: 10pt;">On Monday morning I delivered my speech as Labour’s Leader in Europe to Party Conference. With Europe in economic crisis I felt it was important to get a strong message across about how we in Britain work with our European neighbours. Often I’m told that the recent chaos must mean that the EU is somehow broken, that the Eurosceptics were right all along. And those views are increasingly coming from within our own party.<br />
<br />
What is clear is that the supposed remedies to the current turmoil are making things worse, not better. This is where the real failure in Europe lies; in the hollow ideology being driven by the European Right. Simply they say we must have less; less investment in the technologies and industries of the future, less opportunities for our young people, less employment and less power for working people.<br />
<br />
And it is that ideology which is winning out across the EU, as the Left in Europe is at its lowest ebb since before the Second World War. As recently as 1999 we were in power, or sharing power, in 12 out of the then 15 EU countries. Today, despite Helle Thorning Schmidt's great victory in Denmark earlier this month, that figure is just 8 out of the now 27 Member States. And since the disastrous 2009 elections the Social Democrats in the European Parliament are at their weakest ever.<br />
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Part of the explanation for why we are doing so badly may be that the world our grandparents fought for has, in so many ways, been achieved. Free health care, universal education, and systems of social benefits from cradle to grave are established across Europe. The social democratic solutions which transformed the last century were forged amid the rubble of European war. Today we face ruins of a different sort. Once again social democrats must stand together and rise to the new challenges that Europe faces. Ed Miliband is right to say we have to re-found Labour here at home, but that must be within the broader context of all of us re-founding social democracy across Europe.<br />
<br />
As Europe faces its greatest challenge since 1945, let's not turn our backs. We must work together with colleagues across the EU, since globally produced problems can only be solved globally. The answers cannot be for Labour in Britain alone, and in this interconnected world Europe must be part of the solution. As always the driving force must be our enduring Labour values; solidarity, social justice, the strongest helping the weak; the same values that drove those rebuilding Europe more than 60 years ago. That is how we will secure the future for generations to come.</span> <br />
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</tbody></table></div></div>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-59993308894895474382011-09-22T11:18:00.000+02:002011-09-22T11:18:48.060+02:00Tobacco smoke and discrimination against workers' representatives: new threats to health and safety at workOne of our most important rights in the workplace is our right to be healthy and safe. Yet each year, 168,000 people in Europe die and a further 300,000 suffer permanent disability from work-related accidents and diseases.<br />
<br />
So one of my proudest achievements as an MEP is the report I steered through the European Parliament on the EU's Health and Safety Strategy. I was delighted when this was officially adopted as Parliament's response at the beginning of 2008.<br />
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Parliament welcomed the 5-year target to reduce accidents at work by a quarter. But I called for the strategy to go much further than that. We also needed policies and targets to reduce work-related diseases, such as musculo-skeletal disorders, cancer, and mental illness. And we needed to focus on workers who were at risk of work-related health problems or accidents, such as young and ageing workers, migrant workers, and temporary agency workers.<br />
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Four years on, Parliament is now debating a review of the EU's Health and Safety Strategy. Progress has certainly been made, but we still need to press the European Commission to do more to track the changes in work-related accidents and illnesses, so that we can be sure we are meeting our targets for 2012. We also need to keep pushing for protection for the most at-risk workers.<br />
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The review is also a good time to raise awareness of new threats. I will be putting down an amendment on tobacco smoke at work. Despite all the progress we have made on smoking, we still do not enjoy comprehensive protection from tobacco smoke in the workplace. Tobacco is the biggest cause of preventable illness today, <a href="http://data.euro.who.int/tobacco/Default.aspx?TabID=2404">killing</a> 114,000 people a year in the UK and 650,000 people across Europe. With this amendment, we are calling for action to protect our right to smoke-free air at work.<br />
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I will also be putting forward an amendment on 'blacklisting' and other forms of discrimination against workers and their representatives. It has been shown that health and safety is improved when workers have proper representation, allowing employees to take part in promoting health and safety at work. But recently, I have heard from people in my constituency and from members of the <a href="http://www.hazards.org/blacklistblog/">Blacklist Support Group</a> who have been blacklisted and refused employment for representing their co-workers in this way. I am calling for a change in European law to put a stop to this.<br />
<br />
As well as improving our quality of life, better health and safety is good business. It leads to higher performance from employees and lower costs for both the employer and the taxpayer. So neither the economic crisis nor the Government's spending cuts are a reason to forget about health and safety at work: it is now more important than ever.Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-71937350623399280482011-09-16T14:58:00.005+02:002011-09-16T15:05:21.849+02:00For 4,000 workers, the Remploy factories are irreplaceable - the Government must genuinely listen to them<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When someone proposes to make thousands of people redundant - and at the same time take away their best chance of finding work - those workers deserve an opportunity to put their own case forward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So when Liz Sayce's report recommended in June that funding for the 54 Remploy factories across the UK should be cut, leading to their closure, the 4,000 Remploy workers were promised that there would be a full consultation before a decision was taken.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remploy was founded after the Second World War to provide employment for disabled people, including those returning home from the battlefields. It has decades of expertise in enabling people with disabilities to work and play a full part in society. If the factories are closed, much of that expertise could be lost.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly, this week I have written to Maria Miller, the UK's Minister for Disabled People, to raise my concerns that the promise of full consultation has not been fulfilled.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the Government organised a series of "regional roadshows" to discuss the proposals, 1,000 employees formally applied to attend - but each session was ultimately limited to just 60 Remploy workers, to be selected by managers. Workers were not allowed to ask their Trade Union representatives to attend with them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the East Midlands, where there are Remploy sites at Chesterfield, Derby, Leicester and Worksop, not a single "roadshow" has been organised. Workers may have to travel over 80 miles to get to the nearest event.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Employees are already angry and hurt at the proposals. As a former GMB officer representing Remploy workers, I know that there is a great deal of support available for people at Remploy sites - not all of it purely work-related - which is simply not available elsewhere. When I have visited Remploy, employees have told me that for them, the factories are not just workplaces, but also the centre of their communities and social networks. It is simply not enough just to say that all these people can find 'mainstream' jobs elsewhere.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Government must make sure it has genuinely listened to the full Remploy workforce. Not only is that the minimum they should be able to expect - but the Government must realise the full extent of what the Remploy factories do for their workers, and what a huge loss their closure would be.</span>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-23923664923119746312011-09-15T14:08:00.000+02:002011-09-15T14:08:54.164+02:00Actions speak louder than words for the UN Summit on Non Communicable Diseases<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next week the UN will hold a summit on Non Communicable Diseases, which include cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and which are all on the rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In preparation of this meeting I have been working on a European Parliament Resolution stating <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>'s commitment to tackling these growing problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think everyone can agree that these diseases are devastating lives and families across <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>, and they need to be addressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm glad we're setting a strong and coherent European line for the UN Summit but what's most important is that we act on what we say. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all know that the rising rate of obesity and poor nutrition across Europe means more and more people are at risk from a whole range of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), so it still amazes me that we failed to go further in promoting healthier diets in the recent food labelling negotiations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately some MEPs and European governments decided to listen more to the food and drink industry than to the health experts. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also know that tobacco is the biggest cause of NCDs, but yet we're still waiting for the European Commission to come forward with proposals on revising the Tobacco Products Directive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we get this directive right we could make smoking less appealing to young people and drastically cut the numbers dying from entirely preventable cancers and respiratory diseases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately it seems that the tobacco industry is so far being successful in stopping decisive action against NCDs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will continue to fight for policies that benefit people's health, and I hope the resolution we adopted today will be translated into real action to fight these diseases.</span></div>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-53994986434084308292011-09-13T16:34:00.000+02:002011-09-13T16:34:50.369+02:00David Cameron's attack on worker's rights is no substitute for a plan for growth and jobs<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">EU legislation provides guarantees for employees on their working hours, paid holidays and the right to be consulted, as well as on many other issues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week, the Prime Minister, speaking before a committee of senior MPs, <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmliaisn/uc608-iii/uc60801.htm">said</a> he was unhappy with these rules. This came just a day after <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8743377/David-Cameron-moves-to-water-down-new-EU-job-laws.html">reports</a> that he is seeking to water down proposed new rights for agency workers, which are being brought in as a result of the EU's Agency Workers Directive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Labour in Europe has fought long and hard to protect people's rights at work. The Agency Workers' Directive is just one example of this: the Directive was adopted in 2008 with strong backing from Labour MEPs and against opposition from the Conservatives. We were disappointed to see the introduction of the new rights delayed until 2011 in the UK.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once it has been implemented here, the Directive will give agency workers, after 12 weeks of employment, the same employment rights as workers who are recruited directly by their employer. These rights include not only their pay, but also the basic conditions many workers take for granted - such as holiday pay, sick pay or access to facilities and training.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cameron has chosen to portray all of this as an issue of national sovereignty, saying that labour issues "would be better dealt with at the national level." But in fact this is simply a further attack on workers' rights. The Conservative-led Government believes this is somehow the best way to bring about economic growth - earlier this year, for example, the Chancellor was forced to make a U-turn on <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/mar/18/keep-maternity-legislation-say-parenting-groups">his plans</a> to promote growth by reducing maternity and paternity rights for employees of small businesses.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead of undermining British employees, the Government urgently needs an economic Plan B to promote growth and jobs in the UK.</span>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477382809002526018.post-74540710220469630552011-09-10T11:41:00.000+02:002011-09-10T11:41:12.548+02:00A welcome end to the lifetime ban on gay blood donations<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was really pleased to hear that finally the unfair lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men from donating blood would be lifted in the UK .</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New rules will be based on science rather than prejudice. Instead of a lifetime ban there will need to be a 12 month gap between donating blood and a man's last sexual encounter with another man. This is because there is a three month period after infection with HIV when it cannot necessarily be detected in the blood. It is vital that we get more people <a href="http://www.blood.co.uk/">donating blood</a>, and the last thing we should be doing is needlessly discriminating against people whose blood is perfectly safe.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rules are <a href="http://www.stonewall.org.uk/media/current_releases/5963.asp">still much tighter</a> on homosexual men than there are on heterosexual men, who can donate blood regardless of how many sexual partners they have had or whether or not they use condoms, but this is still a real step in the right direction. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been campaigning for the ban to be lifted and recently wrote a question to the European Commission asking about the legality of blanket bans for homosexual men. <a href="http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/european-commission-banning-gay-men-donating-blood-against-eu-law/">Their answer revealed</a> that under EU law such bans are illegal as they are discriminatory and illogical, underlining that "sexual behaviour" is not the same thing as "sexual identity". I hope that other EU countries with blanket bans will follow the UK 's lead to end the prejudice, and I will continue to put pressure on the Commission to act if they don't.</span></div>Glenis Willmott MEPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15031359615795490666noreply@blogger.com0