21.1.12
PRESS ARTICLE EU ENERGY POLICY
There have been three general aims for energy policy at the
European level - competitiveness,
security and sustainability. Over time, the order of their
priority has changed as the desirability of
achieving an open single market has given way to the perceived
threat of climate change. There is,
of course, an inherent contradiction between these policy
objectives if pursued in isolation. There is
also another important contradiction, the fact that energy
policy remains a national responsibility
whereas a single European energy policy remains an objective.
Read on |
11.1.2012
PRESS RELEASE MEP CHICHESTER MEETING WITH PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL LEADER
FRIDAY 13 JANUARY – PLYMOUTH
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, is to meet with Councillor Vivien
Pengelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council, at the Council House
in Plymouth at 5.30 pm on Friday 13 January.
The meeting has been arranged to brief the MEP on a range of
projects and programmes including those in receipt
of European funding that the City Council has initiated to
further economic development and growth.
MEP Chichester, who is Conservative Energy Spokesman in the
European Parliament, has a specific interest in
the City’s policies and programmes to promote the use of
alternative energy sources and, in particular Plymouth’s
Energy from Waste project.
A briefing meeting has also been arranged for the MEP with Kevin
Kelway, Marketing Executive for Outset
Plymouth, at 3.00 pm in their offices in Milbay. This
organisation, which also has centres in Torbay and
Plymouth, provides free advice, training and assistance to those
involved in start up business projects. Funding is
provided by Plymouth City Council and The European Regional
Development Fund.
ENDS
Contacts:
Cllr. Vivien Pengelly, Council House, Plymouth - 01752 304950
(Personal Assistant Lorraine Menis)
Kevin Kelway – YTKO Outset Plymouth, 39 George Street, Plymouth
PL1 3DX - Tel 07900 183876 |
Dec 2011 ARTICLE NEW EUROPE - ENERGY SPECIAL
For a long time there have been three general aims for energy
policy at the European
level. Competitiveness, security and sustainability. Over time,
the order of priority has
changed as the desirability of achieving an open single market
has given way to the
perceived threat of climate change until the imperative of
keeping the lights on has
asserted itself.
There is, of course, an inherent contradiction between these
policy objectives if
pursued in isolation and without consideration of the others.
There is another
contradiction which needs to be recognised and accommodated,
namely the fact that
energy policy remains a national responsibility whereas the
objective of a single
European policy remains an objective, not least because of the
range of national
situations and the potential for disagreement over what a single
European policy
should actually look like.
Read on
(PDF format) |
16.11.11 PRESS RELEASE HM THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE TIME
CAPSULE
The Royal Commonwealth Society is working to collect a people’s
history to include in “the world’s biggest
online time capsule” to honour the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen
Elizabeth. The capsule will contain a
collection of people’s personal stories about important events
of family, community and country that have
happened during the 60-year reign of HM The Queen. Giles
Chichester, Conservative MEP for the South West
and Gibraltar, has been requested to assist promote the Jubilee
Capsule project in his constituency.
Submissions for inclusion in the Jubilee Capsule should cover
events during the period from February 1952 to
6 June 2012 and should not exceed 1,000 words or 4 minutes of
film and video time. Significant events in
people’s personal history can be weddings, births, community
sports, heritage and other local celebrations, as well
as memories of national events such as the Queen’s Coronation,
England’s World Cup victory, Space Exploration
and the State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill. Further advice
and information can be obtained by telephoning
0207 766 9227, emailing
jubilee@thercs.org or by referring to
the
www.jubilee-timecapsule.org website.
The Royal Commonwealth Society is an international educational
charity whose mission is to support and
promote the culture and values of the Commonwealth of Nations.
It is the centre of an international network of
10,000 members spread across 100 countries and territories. |
10.11.11 DEAR EDITOR
It was inevitable that the Coalition Government would be forced
to cut the Feed in Tariff (FiT) rate of
subsidy. When the FiT scheme was launched by the Labour
Government, the current £867m subsidy
was deemed adequate according to Labour growth projections of
installed solar power capacity.
However, these projections were totally inaccurate and, in fact,
the actual solar capacity figure is now
almost 3 times that projected, resulting in the subsidy level
set by the Government being devoured at an
unsustainable rate. Drastic action had to be taken if we were
not to follow the failure of comparable FiT
schemes in France and Spain whose demise was brought about by
the availability of similar
unrealistically generous government subsidies.
Despite protests from the environmental lobby, I am strongly of
the view that this was an ill-thought and
expensive green energy programme. Those consumers who benefitted
for the most part had cash
available to purchase solar installations and rightly regarded
the FiT as a good investment, giving a very
high return on their money. Unfortunately, the burden of
providing this financial return falls upon the
vast majority of energy consumers who pay for the subsidy
through the Renewable Obligation Tax on
their domestic energy bills. Now that the FiT subsidy has been
halved, it will be interesting to see how
many people will be adopting solar power and “going green” for
the sake of the environment.
The FiT scheme has proved to be an expensive and unsustainable
distraction from the need to develop
an effective national energy policy. A prime task should be to
endeavour to make our domestic, public
and industrial buildings more energy efficient. We cannot afford
to waste energy. Only when this is
achieved should we encourage owners to tinker with subsidised
solar, wind and other alternative energy
systems. We face an energy crisis that is not going to be
resolved by what we put on our roofs. The
green energy policies we inherited from the Labour Government
must be radically reviewed and priority
given to developing a sustainable power station network to serve
the national grid. When we switch on
the lights, we want them to stay on and not be dependent upon
the vagaries of sun and wind. Being green at any price is not
sustainable. |
8.11.11 PRESS RELEASE
“OPENING DOORS FOR SMALL BUSINESS”
A European
Information Seminar entitled “Opening Doors for Small Business”
will take place on Friday
11 November from 0900 to 1400 hrs at The Arundell Arms Hotel in
Lifton. South West Conservative
MEP Giles Chichester, who organised and is sponsoring the event,
will open the Seminar with an
address outlining EU policies currently in force to support
Small and Medium-sized Businesses.
The five principal Seminar speakers are from the University of
Plymouth, the Combined Universities of
Cornwall, Business Information Point and the Devon Federation of
Small Business. They will review
the state of small businesses in the South West and detail the
programmes with which they are involved
to train and educate young business entrepreneurs and also
provide essential ongoing business support
services.
The Seminar will be the occasion for the launch of the revision
of the popular publication - SESAME –
“Supporting Every Small and Medium-sized Enterprise” – produced
by MEP Giles Chichester. This
guide for SMEs in the South West provides details of EU policy
priorities for small business and listings
of sources of funding, information and support services. |
18.10.11 DEAR EDITOR,
ENERGY POLICY RE-THINK
This winter as we struggle to heat our homes, we might take
comfort from the fact that every unit of electricity we
use will contribute to the development of renewable sources of
energy. This tax on electricity bills, the
Renewable Obligation (RO), was devised by Gordon Brown and Ed
Milliband to provide until 2037 a stealth
subsidy to the renewable energy sector.
The RO makes it
mandatory for power suppliers to buy a percentage of
their electricity at a higher price from renewable sources.
Currently, this adds 7% to our domestic fuel bills but, if
the target to build 10,000 wind turbines in Britain is achieved
by 2020, this tax is predicted to increase to 30% and
more.
Business also has to pay the RO tax but additionally they pay
other green taxes, notably the carbon floor tax. It is
levied on businesses, including power stations, and is currently
charged at £16 per tonne of carbon emitted.
However, over the next 9 years, it will gradually increase to
£30 per ton. These energy taxes increase the cost of
domestic electricity supplied but also levy a crushing cost on
our manufacturing industry, making their products
less competitive internationally. It is estimated that by 2020,
these green taxes will add 33% to industry’s energy
costs.
The biggest bite of the Brown/Milliband stealth energy tax
subsidies is devoured by the windpower and,
increasingly, the solar power sectors. By 2020, Tony Blair
committed us to providing 15% of all our energy from
renewables. Coal fired power stations, now providing over 30% of
our electricity needs, must be phased out by
2016 and replaced by low carbon producing energy sources.
Windpower is king. Anyone criticising their claims
to be the solution to our energy needs is ridiculed. We have
reason to be sceptical. The industry claims the 10,000
wind turbines to be built at a cost of £200 billion will have
capacity to produce 25,000 MW of electricity, but the
output measured over 12 months can only achieve 20% of that
figure. Add production costs, pylons to link to the
national grid and standby generators for when the wind doesn’t
blow, and it is obviously not a cost effective or
efficient source of energy.
We are on the brink of an energy crisis. Our current energy
policy is inadequate and serves to increase the burden
on industry, create unemployment and put thousands of households
into fuel poverty. We need to face economic
reality and recognise the curbs on our economic growth that we
face by following blindly the demands of Labour
and the green lobby. The solution to our problems is not to
“shop around for a cheaper fuel supplier” but to
rethink the need for a new energy policy. Is the answer really
“blowing in the wind”? |
12.10.11 DEAR EDITOR
GO SLOW ON GREEN ENERGY
Chancellor George Osborne, in his recent Manchester speech, said
that “a decade of environmental
laws and regulations are piling costs on the energy bills of
households and businesses” and made
clear that “we are not going to save the planet by putting our
country out of business”.
The Chancellor is having to deal with a legacy left by a Labour
Government which enthusiastically
embraced all green policies with little thought to the effects
they would have on industry and jobs.
Carbon reduction measures supported by taxes on the use of
fossil fuels, green energy levies on
electricity and gas consumers to underwrite the development of
alternative energy systems are but
a few of the financial burdens faced by business and industry.
Whereas the rest of the world is taking slow and cautious steps
towards measures to achieve a
green economy, we seem hell bent on following Labour green
policies towards the destruction of
our industrial framework and the bankruptcy of our nation.
Already our manufacturing industries,
particularly those of the chemical industry whose production is
energy intensive, face demise or
their transfer to welcoming economies in Asia and Africa,
resulting in many of our skilled workers
joining the dole queue.
We all share the hope that we will eventually live in a green
and environmentally friendly society.
But because of the huge budget deficit and public debt left by
the Labour Government, this will take
longer to achieve. We must temper our ambitions in order to meet
the reality of this financial
climate. The current green policies are creating unemployment
and putting many thousands of
households into poverty. This situation cannot continue. I agree
with the Chancellor that we are not
going to save the planet by putting our country out of business.
It is time for a Government rethink. |
13.9.11 DEAR
EDITOR CHINA'S ENERGY USAGE POLICY
It’s a common belief in
the Western world that a major contributory factor to the growth
of Chinese
economic superpower status is the fact that their industry does
not have to contend with the restrictions
enforced by Western nations requiring a cut back on greenhouse
gas emissions to address the threat of
climate change. Chinese industry, it is claimed, does not have
to bear the costs of cutting emissions and,
in consequence, its heavily polluting manufacturing industries
can produce goods at lower prices than its
Western competitors. Until 2005, this was an accurate assessment
of the situation.
However, recent investigations by Andrew Warren, Director of the
Association for the Conservation of
Energy, reveal that since 2005 the Chinese Politburo has
demanded its industry cut pollution by making
a less energy intensive or more efficient use of energy sources
and this is now mandated at a 15.6%
annual improvement. A plethora of initiatives were introduced to
jump start this energy saving policy,
including the Ten Key Projects with a $8 billion incentive
budget and the Top Thousand Enterprise
programme which covered 40% of energy consumption. In
consequence, it is now believed that energy
usage will not continue to grow and greenhouse gas emissions are
expected in the 2030s to decline.
This means China is committed to energy efficiency on an
unprecedented scale which will have a
significant effect not only on combating the challenge of
climate change but also indirectly on
improving the competitiveness of British industry. It is to be
hoped that China’s energy saving policies
will be emulated by India and other developing nations to help
secure sustainable global energy supplies
and a greener future for the planet. Making more efficient use
of energy makes sense. |
8.9.11 PRESS RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER FIGHTS EU PROPOSAL TO CONTROL ENERGY DEALS
Conservative MEPs have vowed to fight a European Commission bid
to control and vet all major energy
deals between EU states and other countries such as Libya or
Russia. Under new rules proposed by
German Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, European
governments negotiating
energy agreements with non-EU states would have to submit them
to Brussels for approval by the
Commission. EU officials are also demanding the right to sit in
on negotiations.
MEP Giles Chichester, Conservative Spokesman on Energy in the
European Parliament, condemned
the proposal as "the worst kind of meddling." He said: "Our
energy arrangements are Britain's own
business, not the EU Commission's. This is an attempt to control
and interfere with our
individual trading interests on a new and deeply worrying scale.
The Commission is up to its old empirebuilding
tricks. The proposals pose all sorts of worrying questions about
business confidentiality,
commercial sensitivity and the fairness of any bidding process."
"Russia”, said MEP Chichester, “is the EU's biggest source of
gas and several European states including
UK are already poised to compete for oil partnerships in the new
Libya. Commissioner Oettinger’s
scheme could also restrict British exports as a tenth of
domestic oil production is currently exported
outside the EU. And what about the new Nordstream gas pipeline
which will link Russia to Germany?"
Commissioner Oettinger insisted that sweeping new EU powers were
needed to ensure deals complied
with EU law, especially as energy shortages now exert pressure
on governments to accept regulatory
concessions. But MEP Chichester said: "It is the worst kind of
meddling by the Commission's control
freaks. Given the depth of the eurozone's currency crisis, you
would have thought the Commission
would have had other priorities. But Mr Oettinger is fiddling
while the euro burns. This is on a par with
the proposal from his predecessor in the Prodi Commission to
intervene on oil stocks. Conservatives
managed a majority in the Parliament to reject that draft
Directive which was a solution looking for a
problem that didn´t exist. I hope we won´t have to do it all
over again."
ENDS |
2.9.11
DEAR EDITOR,
COMMONS DEBATE - TEACHING PERSONAL FINANCE TO CHILDREN.
My attention has been drawn by a maths teacher in Wiltshire to a
petition on the Government website
requesting a Commons debate on the need for teaching personal
finance and consumer rights to children
in our schools. The petition, which is the work of financial
adviser Martin Lewis of Moneysupermarket
fame, has so far collected over 55,000 signatures towards the
100,000 target required to initiate a House
of Commons debate on the issue.
I have signed the petition and ask all your readers to do the
same by visiting the website
https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/8903 and
adding their signature.
It is vitally
important that we tackle a root cause of the huge UK personal
debt of over a trillion pounds, (i.e. more
than £1,000,000,000,000), which has contributed significantly to
our nation’s indebtedness. Children
need to be taught how to balance their personal income with
their expenditure and be aware of the
dangers of getting into debt which can often result in marriage
breakdown, loss of home and
unemployment.
Many schools in the South West do teach pupils a basic course on
personal finance but the majority do
not. This situation must end. The Government needs to make the
teaching of personal finance a priority
within the school syllabus to help our children survive our
complex consumer led society. |
|
27.7.11 DEAR
EDITOR EUROPEAN HOLIDAY PRECAUTIONS : Don't
let your dream holiday become a nightmare this summer. A few
simple precautions and a little planning before setting
off on a European holiday can save a lot of heartache - and
money.
Read
on |
11.7.11 PRESS RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER TO VISIT THE INTEL CORPORATION (UK) HEADQUARTERS
MONDAY 18 JULY – SWINDON
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, accompanied by Vicky Ford MEP for
the Eastern Region, will be visiting the Intel (UK) headquarters
in Swindon at 2.00 pm on Monday 18 July. They
will be meeting with Julian Lageard, the Global Public Policy
European Content Expert and his Colleagues, as
well as those responsible for the High Performance Computing
Laboratory.
Intel (UK) in Swindon serves as the European headquarters for
the world’s top semiconductor maker. The
Company manufactures microprocessors, used in desktop and
notebook PCs, servers and workstations. Other
products include embedded semiconductors used in communications,
industrial equipment and point-of-sale
applications. Intel’s largest customers are computer leaders
Dell and Hewlett Packard. Together with the BT
Group and Microsoft, they participated in the UK Home Computing
Initiative (HCI), a government scheme to
promote the benefits of home computing in enhancing job skills.
The company has over 800 employees at its
Swindon headquarters.
During the visit, the MEPs will be briefed on the work of
Intel’s state of the art High Performance Computing
Laboratory and also their EU and domestic policy priorities.
They will also consider the future works programme
of the recently established European Network Information
Security agency (ENIS) resulting from the EU
Commission 2010 Communication – “A European Information Society
for Growth and Employment” – which
highlighted the importance of network and information security
for the creation of a single European information
space.
MEP Chichester is European Conservatives and Reformist Group
Co-ordinator of the Parliament’s Energy,
Research and Industry Committee of which MEP Ford is a Member.
ENDS.
Contact:
Peter Gibson,
Global Public Policy,
Intel Corporation (UK) Ltd,
Pipers Way,
Swindon SN3 1RJ,
Mob: 07798 805 368 |
11.7.11 PRESS RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER TO VISIT UK RESEARCH COUNCILS
MONDAY 18 JULY – SWINDON
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, will be visiting Research Councils
UK, accompanied by Vicky Ford MEP for the Eastern Region, at
10.00 am on Monday 18 July in Polaris House,
Swindon.
Research Councils UK (RCUK) is a partnership of the 7 UK
Research Councils –
Arts & Humanities Research Council; Biotechnology & Biological
Sciences Research Council;
Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council; Economic &
Social Research Council;
Medical Research Council; Natural Environment Research Council;
Science & Technology Facilities Council
The MEPs will meet each of the 7 Research Councils and be
briefed on their programmes.
Each year, the Research Councils invest around £3 billion in
research covering the full spectrum of academic
disciplines from the medical and biological sciences to
astronomy, physics, chemistry and engineering, social
sciences, economics, environmental sciences and the arts and
humanities.
This visit follows a meeting at RCUK in Swindon of heads of
research councils from G8 countries which will be
held on 10 – 12 July to discuss research policy, funding issues
and international co-operation. The MEPs are
interested to learn of its findings.
MEP Chichester is European Conservatives and Reformist Group
Co-ordinator of the Parliament’s Energy,
Research and Industry Committee of which MEP Ford is a Member.
ENDS
Contact:
Peter Stephenson,
Policy Manager, Europe,
RCUK, Polaris House,
Swindon SN2 1ET,
Tel: 01793 444591,
Mob: 0778 5518 148 |
10.7.11 PRESS RELEASE
SW MEP CHICHESTER ELECTED AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT
The European Parliament has elected Giles Chichester,
Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar,
by acclamation as a Vice President.
MEP Chichester said
“I am very proud to be elected by acclamation of the Parliament
to this significant Office, which brings
prestige and status to the South West. I shall look for every
opportunity that will bring benefit to our
Region”.
Giles Chichester was elected to the European Parliament in 1994.
He is European Conservatives and Reformist
Group Co-ordinator of the Parliament’s Energy, Research and
Industry Committee, Member of the Parliament’s
Petition Committee and Conservative Energy Spokesman in the
Parliament.
ENDS |
19.6.2011 MEP
CHICHESTER TO ATTEND CORNWALL ARMED FORCES DAY
ST AUSTELL –
SATURDAY 25 JUNE
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, has been invited by Lady Mary
Holborow DCVO JP and Jill Trewhelia, the Mayor of St Austell to
join them at 11.00 am on Saturday 25 June to
celebrate Cornwall Armed Forces Day in St. Austell.
Giles will attend the service at St. John’s Methodist Church,
followed by presentations to Members and Cadets of
the Armed Forces. He will then witness the parade around St.
Austell town by serving members of the Armed
Forces, Military Veterans and Cadets, at the end of which there
will be a presentation by the Armed Forces to
Lady Mary Holborow to thank her for the support she has given
during her term as Cornwall’s Lord Lieutenant.
ENDS
Contact:
The Mayor’s Office
St. Austell Town Council
39, Penwinnick Road
St. Austell PL25 5DR
Tel: 01726 223374 |
18.6.2011 MEP
CHICHESTER TO OFFICIALLY OPEN TORBAY WASTE RECYCLNG CENTRE
TORBAY – FRIDAY 24 JUNE
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, will officially open the Torbay
Recycling Centre on Yalberton Industrial Estate, Paignton at
12.30 pm on Friday 24 June. Present at the
Ceremony will be Gordon Oliver, the Mayor of Torbay,
Phillip-Fellows-Prynne, the May Gurney Chief Executive
and Cllr. Jeannette Richard, the Torbay Council Cabinet Member
for the Environment.
The Recycling Centre, known officially as TOR2 Household Waste
Recycling Centre, was introduced to meet the
EU’s revised Waste Directive and assist Torbay achieve its
target of 50% household waste recycling by 2012,
rather than the statutory 2020. The service is projected to save
Torbay Council up to £14 million through reduced
landfill taxes and fines over the 10-year contract.
TOR2 is a joint venture formed in 2010 between Torbay Council
and May Gurney, which is delivering services,
including waste and recycling collections, beach cleaning,
highway maintenance, car parks and maintenance of
the Council’s vehicle fleet over a 10-year contract. The
partnership is saving Torbay Council £1 million annually
in operating costs alone.
Giles Chichester MEP is European Conservative Group Co-ordinator
of the Research and Energy Committee of
the European Parliament, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman on
Energy and President of the European
Energy Forum.
ENDS
Contact:
Alastair Campbell,
TOR2 Project Director,
Aspen Way, Yalberton Industrial Estate, Paignton TQ4 7QR
Tel: 01803 402909
Mob: 07824 305478 |
14.6.2011 PRESS
RELEASE MEP CHICHESTER TO VISIT COMBINED
UNIVERSITIES OF CORNWALL
FALMOUTH – MONDAY 20 JUNE
Dr Sue Brownlow, the Director of the Combined Universities of
Cornwall, has invited Giles Chichester,
Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar, to a
briefing on the Universities’ recent education and
research programmes. The briefing meetings will take place from
11.30 am on Monday 20 June at the Tremough
Campus of University College Falmouth.
During his visit, Giles will meet with senior academics heading
the University of Exeter’s Environment and
Sustainability Institute and be briefed on its research and
activity programmes. They will also update him on
recent research being carried out in Marine Renewable Energy
fields.
Visits have also been arranged for Giles to the Design Centre
and Performance Centre of University College
Falmouth. He will be informed by Deputy Rector, Professor Geoff
Smith, of the University’s current research
programme and, in particular, plans for the new Academy for
Innovation and Research. This specialist institution
for art, design, media and performance, working closely with the
creative industries and other sectors, will be the
home of research and business collaboration at University
College Falmouth.
The Combined Universities of Cornwall are a partnership of 6
universities – Exeter University, University
College Falmouth, Truro College, Penwith College, Plymouth
Peninsular College of Medicine and Cornwall
College. They offer university level and short courses, distance
and online courses, a wide range of research
programmes in specialist fields and services in support of
business.
ENDS
Contact:
Samantha Kirby
Marketing & Communications Manager,
Combined Universities of Cornwall, Tremough Campus, Treliever Road, Penryn, Falmouth TR10 9EZ Tel: 01326 370400
Mob: 07834 676942 |
12.6.2011 PRESS
RELEASE MEP CHICHESTER TO VISIT DHL FREIGHT CENTRE
BRISTOL – FRIDAY 17 JUNE
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, will be visiting the DHL International
(UK) Ltd consolidated freight centre in Bristol at Cribbs
Causeway at 3.00 pm on Friday 17 June for a meeting
with Sharon Davies, the UK Director of Corporate Affairs.
Director Sharon Davies wishes to inform MEP Chichester about the
results of their successful participation in the
EU Intelligent Energy Programme. The Bristol consolidated
freight centre makes deliveries to 63 retail outlets.
Through participation in the Programme, it is now able to
provide considerable savings in carbon emissions and
also reduce road congestion whilst improving delivery time to
retailers. Since 2004, they have reduced vehicle
usage by 76% which equates to savings of 74 tonnes of CO2 and
2,404 kg of Nox.
DHL operates from 346 locations in the UK, providing services
from warehousing and logistical support to retail
outlets, temperature controlled services for healthcare and
replacement parts and reserve logistics. It serves all
sectors of UK industry ranging from automotives and fashion to
chemicals and healthcare.
ENDS
Contact:
Kerry Tottman,
DHL International (UK) Ltd,
Lysander Road, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol
Tel: 0208 8180200
0208 8188193 |
28.5.2011 PRESS
RELEASE MEP CHICHESTER SUPPORTS NORTH DEVON LOCAL RADIO CAMPAIGN
Members of the Voice FM campaign group have expressed fears to
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for the
South West and Gibraltar, that the passing of the Digital
Economy Bill resulting in the transfer of FM to DAB
radio broadcasting, will see an end in 2012 of local radio
services in North Devon and Torridge. They have
requested the MEP to pursue the matter with the Government and
OFCOM and obtain assurances there will be a
“full and genuine” public consultation.
MEP Chichester has written to Ed Vaizey MP, the Minister for
Culture and Communications, about his concerns
for the future of local radio in North Devon and Torridge. He
notes, in the light of the Localism Bill which
emphasises Government policy to support communities, that the
maintenance of a genuinely local radio service is
important.
A copy of the letter sent by Giles Chichester MEP on 21 May 2011
to Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture and
Communications is attached.
ENDS
View letter (scroll to 2nd page of PDF) |
22.5.2011 PRESS
RELEASE MEP CHICHESTER VISIT TO UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH
27th MAY AT 2.00 pm
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, will be visiting the University of Plymouth
at 2.00 pm on Friday 27th May for meetings with Vice Chancellor
Wendy Purcell and her colleagues.
Of particular interest to Giles is the University’s robotics
research programme. As European Conservative
Reform Group Co-ordinator of the European Parliament Research
Committee, he wishes to learn of the progress
being made, with the aid of the EU research grant of Euros 8.3
million to the University, in the project to build
social cognition for robots. This project, led by Plymouth,
involves 8 European universities and focuses on
memory in robots with a view to the long term development of a
constructive bond between robot and user.
Giles will also tour the new Marine Studies Building and be
briefed about its range of courses, which include a
new Marine Studies (Merchant Shipping) degree programme. This is
designed for students who desire either to
pursue a career as a Merchant Navy deck officer or be involved
in the management of shore based marine
industries. A highlight of this visit will be an opportunity for
Giles to use the Ship Simulator which trains
students on the controls used on a ship’s bridge.
With over 30,000 students and 3000 staff from across the South
West, the University of Plymouth has significant
economic and cultural impact in the Region. A recent study has
revealed that the University contributes gross
£241 million in the South West, supporting over 4,100 jobs.
ENDS
Contact:
James Redfern, Executive Officer
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
University of Plymouth,
Drakes Circus,
Plymouth, PL4 8AA Tel: 01752 552018
Mobile: 075 406 77328 |
22.5.2011 PRESS
RELEASE MEP CHICHESTER BRIEFING BY SOUTH WEST LAKES TRUST
TAVISTOCK – 27 MAY AT 5.15 PM
A briefing has been arranged for Giles Chichester, Conservative
MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, with
Director Evelyn Stacey on the work of the South West Lakes
Trust, which will be held at 5.15 pm on Friday 27
May at the Bedford Hotel in Tavistock. The Trust is now
celebrating the 10th year of its foundation.
The Trust is the South West Region’s largest combined
environmental and recreational charity. It is responsible
for developing sustainable leisure and conservation programmes
for 50 inland water sites throughout Devon,
Cornwall and West Somerset. Annually, they attract in the region
of 2 million visitors.
Over the past decade, the Trust has successfully completed
numerous environmental, conservation and leisure
projects in partnership with local and national organisations,
including the Forestry Commission, County Sports
Partnership and South West Tourism, as well as local community
groups particularly concerned with the
environment and wildlife protection. The importance of this work
has been recognised through the presentation
to the Trust of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the Green
Tourism Gold Award and the first Sustainable
Development Award for Cornwall.
ENDS Contact:
Emma de Haan, PA to the Director, South West Lakes Trust< Lidn Park, Quarry Crescent
Pennygillam Industrial Estate
Launceston, Cornwall PL15 7PF
Tel: 01566 771930
Email: info@swlakestrust.org.uk
Web: www.swlakestrust.org.uk |
21.5.2011 PRESS
LETTER
Dear Editor, Think before Buying a Property in Spain
As Spain's Development Minister Jose Blanco launches a campaign
to encourage British people to
invest in Spanish property, I want to warn them to be extremely
vigilant.
During my time as an MEP, I and my Parliamentary colleagues have
handled a number of cases where
Britons have lost houses and nest eggs in Spain, thanks to its
unjust planning laws.
British families that have invested in homes in Spain have seen
those properties seized because of
retrospectively applied planning laws. In many cases, they are
then required to pay substantial sums for
demolition or to rent the land that they have already bought.
In this context, the Spanish Minister Blanco's promotional
claims that Spain's property market is
'transparent' and 'sound' must be seen for what they are: a
whitewash. He should sit down with the many
British people who have lost their entire life savings.
Conservative MEPs have been campaigning in the European
Parliament for Spain to change these laws. This is a simple
matter of justice, and we will continue to highlight these cases
in any way possible. In the meantime, my advice to anyone
thinking of buying a property in Spain would be: don't do it
unless you can afford to lose your investment.
|
21.5.2011 PRESS
RELEASE THINK BEFORE BUYING A PROPERTY IN SPAIN
As Spain's Development Minister Jose Blanco launches a campaign
to encourage British people to invest in
Spanish property, Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for the
South West and Gibraltar, has warned people to
beware some of its aberrant planning laws which have seen
thousands of Brits robbed of their houses and nest
eggs.
The Development Ministry launched its Europe-wide campaign in
the UK. It is aimed at promoting the
'transparency' of Spain's housing market and the 'soundness' of
its property legislation. However, the Ministry is
unlikely to highlight the thousands of British families that
have invested in homes in Spain, only to have those
properties seized by the state because of retrospectively
applied planning laws, often resulting in the owners being
forced to pay substantial sums for demolition or to rent the
land that they have already bought.
The European Parliament's petitions committee has heard from
dozens of victims, and in 2009 the parliament
passed a report calling on the Spanish authorities to rethink
their laws. To date, the Spanish authorities have
ignored the call.
MEP Giles Chichester said:
"Over the years I have heard heart-breaking stories from my
constituents who invested their savings into a
holiday or retirement home in Spain, only to lose everything.
Spain's planning 'laws' are unjust and
completely disgraceful.
"
The Spanish Minister has a bare-faced cheek to promote Spanish
real estate here whilst thousands of
British people have lost their homes. Minister Blanco is trying
to whitewash his country's abysmal record.
I would suggest that the minister sits down with some of the
victims who I have met over the years and see
what they think of his claim about the transparency and
soundness of Spanish property legislation. Some
of the stories that I have heard are absolutely heart-breaking
and show that the plethora of human rights
conventions, declarations and courts are completely futile when
it comes to actually helping people pursue
justice. Conservative MEPs will continue to campaign for Spain
to bring its planning laws into the 21st
century. In the meantime I would advise people to steer well
clear of this roadshow”.
ENDS
Note for Editor: the notice from the Spanish Ministry can be
found by clicking
here:
The European Parliament report can be found by clicking
here |
11.5.2011 VISIT TO THE SOUTH WEST FORUM TO
DISCUSS THE BIG SOCIETY
: EXETER UNIVERSITY – MONDAY 16 MAY
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, will be meeting with members of the
South West Forum at the Innovation Centre of the University of
Exeter at 2.30 pm on Monday 16 May.
The South West Forum is the regional representative of the
National Association for Voluntary and Community
Action (NAVCA), which provides support for 160,000 local
charities, voluntary organisations and community
groups in England. MEP Chichester wishes to be informed about
the role that NAVCA can play in developing
the Coalition Government’s plans for the “Big Society”.
The NAVCA Chief Executive, Kevin Curley, has written to Nick
Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society, offering
the support of NAVCA in relation to the Government’s “Big
Society” plans. He wrote that the NAVCA
membership network of 310 local support and development
organisations (often called CVS or Voluntary Action)
could provide expertise in the promotion of volunteering, the
delivery of public services by charities and support
for neighbourhood groups.
ENDS
Contact:
Stephen Woollett
South West Forum
Unit 1, Phase 1
Innovation Centre
University of Exeter
Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RN
Tel: 01293 247901 |
21.4.11 PRESS RELEASE
GILES CHICHESTER TO SPEAK ON EU ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
DEVELOPMENTS AT CEEMG SEMINAR CIRENCESTER – 28th APRIL AT 3.30
pm
The Cotswold Energy and Environmental Group (CEEMG) will be
holding a seminar from 1315 hrs on
Thursday 28 April at the Stratton House Hotel in Cirencester.
The Group have asked Giles Chichester,
Conservative MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, to speak at
1530 hrs on “Current Developments in
Energy, the Environment and Sustainability in the European
Union.
CEEMG was established in 1994 “to promote energy efficiency and
good environmental practice” in
Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. It has 300 members from 130 large
and small industrial companies and
organisations in this catchment area. They include NHS Trusts,
County and Unitary Local Authorities,
Government Agencies, Financial Services, consultants and
charitable organisations.
ENDS
Contact: CEEMG Chairman Mike Strickland (Tel. 0117 967 3009)
Email: btcfsohoq01@btopenworld.com
Stratton House Hotel, Cirencester GL7 2LE |
20.4.11 PRESS RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER TO MEET WITH STUDENTS TO DISCUSS THEIR
CITIZENSHIP PROJECT ON SLUM DWELLERS PLYMOUTH – 27 APRIL
AT 2.00 pm
Two students from Plymouth High School for Girls have written to
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP
for the South West and Gibraltar, asking him to meet with them
to discuss their project on slum dwellers.
The students, Jennifer Little and Alexander Bindon, together
with teacher Jackie Judge, will meet with
Giles at the School at 2.00 pm on Wednesday 27 April.
The students, who carried out the research for a Citizenship
Course, have expressed horror at the living
conditions of slum dwellers in countries throughout the world
and wish to raise public awareness of their
plight.
Giles Chichester will tell his young constituents about
the actions the European Union is taking to
improve living conditions through its food and medical aid
programmes and also to safeguard the human
rights of the poor in the developing world.
ENDS
Contact: Jackie Judge (Tel. 01752 230043)
Plymouth High School for Girls
St Lawrence Road
Plymouth PL4 6HY |
19.4.11 PRESS RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER TO JOIN THE CELEBRATIONS FOR BRISTOL ZOO’S 175th
ANNIVERSARY CLIFTON, BRISTOL – TUESDAY 26 APRIL AT 1.00 pm
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, has accepted an invitation to visit
Bristol Zoo Gardens on Tuesday 26th April. At 1300 hrs, he will
meet Director Bryan Carroll to be
briefed on his plans to celebrate the Zoo’s 175th anniversary
year in 2011.
Numerous events are planned, including a major public arts event
– “Wow! Gorillas Campaign”. The
intention is to locate 60 – 80 individually and professionally
painted sculptures throughout the Greater
Bristol area (within a 25 miles radius of the city) during a 10
week period in the summer.
There will also be a Walk of Fame honouring Bristol’s favourite
icons.
The names of 50 of the City’s
renowned people and places across the historic, creative,
sporting and wild life spectrum will be detailed
on plaques of Bristol Blue Glass and placed on the Walk around a
12 acre site in the Zoo.
Giles is interested to be updated on forthcoming plans for the
55 acre Zoo estate at Cribbs Causeway
which it is proposed will be developed into a National Wildlife
Conservation Park.
ENDS.
Contact: Kristina Haldane, PA to Director Bryan Carroll (Tel.
0117 974 7302)
Email: khaldane@bristolzoo.org.uk
Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA |
18.4.11 PRESS RELEASE
Dear Editor SAY NO TO AV
Normally voting systems are a subject of marginal interest to
everyone except the anoraks of the
political class. But now is not normal because we are shortly to
be called upon to vote about changing
our First Past the Post (FPTP) system for general elections to
one called Alternative Votes (AV). I have
been amused by references in the press to differing meanings for
AV; in France it could be A Vendre or
for sale; elsewhere it could mean Adult Video but for me it is
best summed up by one of my favourite
Winston Churchill stories. It is said the great man encountered
a young, new MP and afterwards asked
what his name was. Mr. Bossom, came the answer. “I see”, said
Winston, “neither one thing nor the
other” which is a pretty good description of the AV voting
system.
This miserable distortion of our present system would give us a
distinctly unfair system in which
supporters of the least popular candidates could have their
votes counted two or three times and lead to
the perverse result of the second or third most popular
candidate being elected over the head of the real
winner who came first with the most votes originally. This is
neither fair nor proportional; we should
vote to reject it out of hand and wait for a time when there
might be a real alternative system of
proportional representation to debate. Even then I will argue
strongly in favour of FPTP. I understand
in the Twenties when the voting issue was debated, the AV system
was strongly opposed by Churchill –
and how right he was! ENDS |
12.4.11 PRESS RELEASE
Dear Editor, THE BIG SOCIETY
I like what I understand by the phrase the Big Society yet we
have struggled to put across what should be a simple
concept because the title seems to be the opposite of what it
seeks to describe.
The Left in our politics, whether it be old Labour, social
Liberal or Green, has fostered a belief that the State has
the answer to all our needs and thereby destroyed individual
responsibility and freedom through all sorts of nannying interventionism. To me that is the opposite of what we
intend to restore through the Big Society
approach, but it does have the ring of Orwell’s big brother and
an all embracing state. It is no doubt well-intentioned
but it flies in the face of human nature and a whole raft of
long-held values and beliefs.
For me it is more about Burkes little platoons and finding the
contemporary language to express those values and
beliefs as well as putting them into effect. I mean the human
values of family, friendship, neighbourliness,
community concern, civic pride and, in general, our duty and
obligation to others. And I mean the beliefs of the
major religions about individual behaviour and consideration for
others such as doing unto others as you would
have them do to you. It means practising what the Good Samaritan
did and crossing the road to help. It means
enjoying the warm feeling you get when you have helped someone
for no reward.
Criticism that the Big Society is a solution to the effects of
spending cuts is simply not true. Labour has indeed
bankrupted this country but what is worse is that their policies
created a vast central government bureaucracy
which took control over almost every decision affecting our
lives. Their actions virtually destroyed our tradition
of volunteering to help ourselves. The decline in volunteering
reached its lowest point in 7 years in 2003 under
the Labour Government. The Citizenship Survey of 2010 reveals
that only 24% of people now volunteer their
time once a month to help their communities. Labour’s big
brother approach to criminal record checks on anyone
with any contact with children is a typical sledgehammer to
crack a nut which won’t stop paedophilia but risks
alienating up to 13million people who could fall within its
scope.
Labour claims that without government financial assistance
community enterprises cannot develop. This
government is aware that “start up” funding is important and it
will be allocating several hundred million pounds
for Big Society projects. But it is obvious that with clear
objectives and motivation, people power can succeed
without government monies. There are many examples of important
Big Society organisations in the South West
which, without government assistance, have developed essential
services to help others. The Cornwall Shelter
Box Charity of Helston, for example, has over the past 10 years
produced and distributed over 100,000 survival
boxes to provide shelter and survival equipment for over 1
million victims of natural disasters in 17 countries.
Volunteers have raised some £50 millions from public donations
to cover operational costs. ENDS |
|
7.4.11
PRESS RELEASE
EU COURT ADVOCATE GENERAL BACKS GIBRALTAR'S LOW TAX REGIME.
The top adviser to the European Court of Justice has today
recommended that the Court support
Gibraltar's low tax regime, against attempts by the European
Commission to say that it constitutes illegal
state aid.
Conservative MEP for Gibraltar, Giles Chichester MEP, welcomed
the decision and said that the Court's
support for low corporate tax regimes was a breath of fresh air
against the ongoing efforts to make other
countries - particularly Ireland - raise their corporate tax
levels.
In 2004, the Commission warned that the new 2002 tax regime on
the Rock was regionally selective
because it constituted regional aid within the Single Market.
However, today the European Court of
Justice’s Advocate General - whose advice is upheld by the Court
around 80 percent of the time - has
said that Gibraltar should be seen as its own territorial
framework for taxation purposes.
The Advocate General also ruled that the tax measures
constituted fiscal policy rather than state aid.
Giles Chichester said:
"This is good news for Gibraltar.
"For years socialists have been trying to equate low corporate
taxes with state aid and this opinion
says they are wrong. There is no such thing as harmful tax
competition in the EU, and Gibraltar
must fight against any efforts to harmonise corporate tax
regimes."
Gibraltar, with its low corporate tax regime, is showing the
rest of the EU the way forward. Tax
competition is one of the best forms of competition in the
Single Market and we should encourage
it, not harmonise it out of existence."
ENDS |
5.4.11
MICROSOFT’S BIG SOCIETY PROGRAMME TO HELP PEOPLE BACK TO WORK
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, has met with Microsoft representatives in Strasbourg
to discuss their 3-year “Britain Works” programme, which aims to
help create 500,000 jobs in areas of IT work that will lead
Britain’s economic recovery. This programme will be implemented
by Microsoft through a series of employment focused partnerships
with community learning centres, public authorities and
nongovernment organisations.
There are 5 main elements to the Microsoft “Britain Works”
programme:-
i. Partnerships with employment-focussed NGOs – Microsoft will
build on existing relationships and create new partnerships with
employment-focussed non-government organisations to support
their work in getting hard-to-reach people back to work. Support
for NGOs will be in the form of cash, software and volunteering
time;
ii. A national Partner Apprenticeship Scheme is currently being
developed as a pilot in the West Midlands, which involves 7
months training by a Microsoft IT academy;
iii. New Technology Startups are being delivered by Microsoft’s
Biz Spark, providing software support, networking and other
resources to help create thousands of software development jobs;
iv. Access to IT Skills Training is freely available at UK
online centres through the Microsoft Digital Literacy Curriculum
teaching basic computer concepts and skills, which provides for
an OCR accreditation;
v. Work experience for young people will be developed through
the Young Britain Work Group, which will provide 150 placements
with IT work experience for unemployed young people, and in
partnership with Remploy encourage other employers to provide
more IT placements. A helpline will also provide young people
with advice on job opportunities and job hunting skills.
Giles Chichester MEP said “Currently almost 80% of all jobs
require some form of computer skills. This Microsoft project is,
therefore, highly relevant and exciting for its potential impact
on IT skills training and employment prospects for the South
West. I urge local authorities, employers and voluntary
community groups to explore the full potential of the Microsoft
“Britain Works” programme. If this private sector scheme is not
Big Society territory then I don’t know what is!”
Information about all aspects of the Microsoft Britain Works
programme can be obtained from its free telephone help line 0800
1114341, by emailing
britwork@microsoft.com or by
consulting the website
www.microsoft.com/uk/britainworks/bw_programinfo.aspx
ENDS |
27.3.11 PRESS
RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER TO MEET WITH SOUTH DEVON COLLEGE STUDENTS
PAIGNTON – FRIDAY 1st APRIL
South Devon College has invited Giles Chichester, Conservative
MEP for the South West and Gibraltar,
to meet with students preparing to enter the public services
(police, armed forces and prison services) at 11.00 am
on Friday 1st April at the College.
Giles will brief students on the institutions of the European
Union, the European Parliament and his work as an MEP representing South West England. His address will be
followed by a Question and Answer session with the
students.
ENDS
Contact:
Glynn Potter
South Devon College
Long Road Paignton TQ7 4ET
Tel: 01803 540328
Email: lpotter1580@hotmail.co.uk |
24.3.11 Dear
Editor, IN PRAISE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
The Fukishima nuclear emergency has given rise to a chorus of
doomsday warnings from anti-nuclear
groups about the dangers for Britain if we continue to develop
our nuclear energy programme. Let me
nail my colours to the mast. I have complete confidence in the
quality of government-enforced safety
checks on our nuclear power stations. Nuclear power in Britain
has the most impressive safety record.
It is essential in my view that we continue to expand our
nuclear programme as an important part of the
mix of sustainable energy sources which guarantee the security
of our national energy supply.
READ ON for more of this very interesting document. |
|
20.3.11 PRESS
RELEASE MEP CHICHESTER TO SPEAK AT SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
SEMINAR
WESTON-SUPER-MARE 26 MARCH
TENONS, The Environmental Network of North
Somerset, have invited Giles Chichester, Conservative
MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, to speak
at its “Sustainable Energy Seminar – Meeting the Demand”.
The event will be held at the Blakehay Theatre
in Weston-super-Mare on Saturday 26 March from 9.45 am
until 12.45 pm.
MEP Giles Chichester is Conservative Spokesman
for Energy, and European Conservatives and Reformists
Group Coordinator on the Energy Committee in the
European Parliament. He will give a PowerPoint
presentation at 10.20 am on “Sustainable Energy
– A European Perspective”. This will include a
presentation, “In Praise of Nuclear Energy”.
ENDS
Contact:
Sonia Russé of TENONS
Tel: 01934 424675
Mob: 07787 970 626
|
11.3.11 PRESS
MEP CHICHESTER TO SPEAK AT EU CONFERENCE FOR WESTCOUNTRY BISHOPS
PLYMOUTH – FRIDAY 18 MARCH
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, will address a Conference about the work
of the European Union for the Bishops of Exeter and Truro on
Friday 18 March at St Paul’s Church at Efford in
Plymouth. This Conference will be concerned with “Making the
Connection between South West England and
the European Union”. Giles Chichester MEP will speak to the
delegates at 1.15 pm on his work – “Representing
the South West of England in the European Parliament”.
The purpose of this Conference is to help the two Church of
England dioceses gain a greater understanding of
how the EU works and initiate a dialogue which will be
beneficial to the Region. Sessions will cover the
institutions of the EU and its treaties; the work of the South
West Office in Brussels and the Committee of the
Region; EU Convergence Funding for economic development and
other sources of EU support.
The audience will comprise the Bishops of Exeter and Truro and
30 senior representatives from their dioceses.
Dr Gary Wilton, who organised this event, is the Church of
England Representative to the European Union and
Canon of the Holy Trinity Church in Brussels.
ENDS
Contact:
Canon Dr Gary Wilmot at the Church of England Office, 1050
Brussels, Belgium
Tel. +32(0) 25117183
Email: gary.wilton@holytrinity.be |
26.02.11 Dear Editor,
ENERGY FROM WASTE
I respect the fears of those in the South West who protest
against the building of Energy from Waste
(EfW) plants in their areas. However, let me reassure them that
their fears are unfounded. These EfW
plants do not comprise incinerators which belch out black clouds
of toxic smoke. The process used in an
Energy from Waste plant is not incineration but, as the
Institute of Mechanical Engineers have
emphasised, a combustion system that emits negligible emissions
of polluting particles.
The UK Health Protection Agency and Defra both agree that
emissions particles produced by EfW
plants are less than 0.3% compared with 27% for traffic and 25%
for industry. Even more emphatic is
the view of the UK Committee on Carcinogenicity which said “any
potential risk of cancer due to
residency near municipal solid waste incinerators (combustion
plants) was exceedingly low and not
measurable by the most modern epidemiological techniques”.
People do have fears about emissions
from EfW plants and they are regularly cited by those who object
to their building but I hope I have
shown that such fears are groundless.
I have visited a number of Energy from Waste plants throughout
Europe and have been impressed by the
virtually pollution free continuous combustion processes which
provide much needed electric power for
the community. In fact, an EfW plant located in the centre of
Vienna produces electricity for the
national grid in the summer and heat for the Viennese community
in the winter. It is obvious to me
when looking at the escalating cost of my electricity bills that
the Europeans have got it right and we
should follow their example and utilise EfW resources to help
reduce our dependency upon expensive
energy imports and stop sending any waste to landfill.
It is an unfortunate fact that despite all our efforts to
increase the recycling of our waste there will
always be an irreducible amount for which we must find ways of
disposal. It may no longer be dumped
in a landfill site. Furthermore, whatever process is used to get
rid of this waste, it must not greatly
increase CO2 emissions and further contribute to global warming
and climate change. At this time, the
solution rests in the use of Energy from Waste plants to deal
with residual non-recyclable waste and
locally generate renewable energy which also contribute to the
security of our energy supply. |
26.02.11 MEP
CHICHESTER VISIT TO AVON RUBBER MELKSHAM,
FRIDAY 4 MARCH
An invitation has been extended for Giles Chichester,
Conservative MEP for the South West and Gibraltar,
to visit Avon Rubber Plc at 11.30 am on Friday 4 March. The
meeting with Directors will take place at the
offices of Avon Protection Systems at Melksham, Wiltshire.
Avon Rubber Plc, who many yachtsmen will remember as producers
of liferafts and dinghies, are world leaders in
the design, development and manufacture of security protection
and respiratory equipment for the military, law
enforcement and emergency services. They employ 154 people in
the local area.
The invitation for Giles to visit Avon Rubber was arranged on
behalf of the Defence Industries Council as part of
its Defence Matters Campaign to increase awareness of the
contribution of the industry to the economy and
national defence. Across the UK, the defence industry employs
300,000 in manufacturing and engineering jobs.
There are 9,000 companies in the defence supply chain comprising
more SMEs than the German, French, Spanish
and Italian industries combined. The UK defence industry has a
10% share of the global market and contributes
£5 billion to the UK economy.
ENDS
Contact: Julia Green, Avon Protection, Semington Road, Melksham
SN12 6NB
Tel: 01225 896564
Email: julia.green@avon-rubber.com |
12.01.11 MEP
CHICHESTER’S PUBLICATIONS ON CURRENT ENERGY ISSUES
ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED BY SOUTH WEST SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
Two publications on current energy issues have been written by
South West Conservative MEP Giles Chichester
and published by the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists)
Group in the European Parliament. They are
now being distributed to 5,000 schools and colleges in the South
West and throughout England and Wales.
Those teachers who have received the publications, which are
entitled “In Praise of Nuclear Energy” and
“Sustainable Secure Energy”, and responded have been almost
unanimous in their praise of the “quality and
content”, “succinct summaries” and “balanced view” of MEP
Chichester’s review of the current energy situation.
One appreciative secondary school teacher actually wrote on
receipt of the publications that “it was the first
occasion when I have actually felt that the EU had brought a
direct benefit to my role”.
Giles Chichester MEP is Conservative Energy Spokesman, as well
as ECR Coordinator in the Energy Committee
of the European Parliament. Copies of his publications
“Sustainable Secure Energy” and “In Praise of Nuclear
Energy” are available from the MEP’s Office and can also be
downloaded through the following links on his
website
http://www.gileschichestermep.org.uk/SustainableEnergy-web.pdf
http://www.gileschichestermep.org.uk/In-praise-of-nuclear-energy.pdf
ENDS |
12.01.11 ATLANTIC
ARRAY PROJECT
Giles
Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, will be meeting with the RWE
npower renewables Project Team to discuss their plans for the
Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm. RWE has
received a license from Crown Estates to develop the Project in
the Outer Bristol Channel between the North
Devon and South Wales coast. When the project is fully
operational, it is estimated that the 350 turbines will
have the potential to generate up to 1,500 MW of electricity,
sufficient for over 1 million homes. The total cost
is estimated at £3 billion.
The meeting will take place at 12.30 pm on Friday 14 January at
the Mercure Southgate Hotel in Exeter.
The Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm is classified as a
nationally significant infrastructure project and will
require a Development Consent Order under the 2008 Planning Act.
Public Consultation will commence in the
near future.
Robert Thornhill, Development Manager for the Atlantic Array,
recently submitted an application for an
anemometry mast within the development zone, primarily to
measure wind speeds, but also to assess wave and
tidal conditions. “As we continue the development process, we
will be working in close consultation with
government agencies, environmental groups and coastal
communities with the aim of submitting a planning
application during 2012.”
Giles Chichester is Conservative Energy Spokesman in the
European Parliament, Co-ordinator of the ECR
Energy Committee in the Parliament and Chairman of the European
Energy Forum. He has recently written
reviews of ‘Sustainable Secure Energy’ and ‘In Praise of Nuclear
Energy’ which have been published under the
auspices of Conservatives in the European Parliament and the ECR
Group in the Parliament. Copies are
available from the MEP’s Office and on his website.
http://www.gileschichestermep.org.uk/SustainableEnergy-web.pdf
http://www.gileschichestermep.org.uk/In-praise-of-nuclear-energy.pdf
ENDS
Contacts:
i. Mercure Southgate Hotel, Southernhay East, Exeter EX1 1QF
(Tel. 01392 412812)
ii. RWE npower renewables, Atlantic Array Project Team
Linda Taylor (Tel. 0775 001697) – Email -
Linda.Taylor@3gc.co.uk |
24.10.10 MEP CHICHESTER TO VISIT CORNWALL
AIRPORT
ST MAWGAN, NEWQUAY – 4 NOVEMBER
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, is to visit Cornwall Airport at St Mawgan
on Thursday 4 November at 2.00 pm. He will be meeting with
Airport Managing Director, Al Titterington, for a
briefing on developments achieved within the 2009 Master Plan
approved by owners Cornwall Council and which
received EU funding support.
Since taking over operational management of the Airport in 2007
and receiving its Civil Aviation License in
December 2008, Cornwall Airport Limited has made considerable
investment in passenger facilities and is
increasing the number of flight destinations. A contract with
Midwest Executive Aviation, which enhanced its
private aviation handling facilities, has enabled the Airport to
develop routes to regional airports throughout
Britain.
The Airport management is also seizing opportunities in the
aerospace sector to assist the growth of the Cornish
economy.
Recent negotiations with Agusta Westland has resulted
in the helicopter manufacturer basing its new
helicopter training programme, covering skills such as policing
and search and rescue, at the Airport.
ENDS
Contact: Carlie Chaffin,
Pa to Airport Directors
Tel. 01637 861004
Email: cchaffin@newquaycornwallairport.com
Newquay Cornwall Airports
St Mawgan Newquay TR8 4RQ |
24.10.10
MEP
CHICHESTER SUPPORTS MARCH FOR HONOUR BY ROYAL MARINES
HONITON – 5 & 6 NOVEMBER
On November 4, four teams of uniformed serving and retired
members of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces will
begin a March For Honour from four separate locations across
England. Each of the RAF, Navy, Army and
Royal Marine teams will speed march a mile for every British
military life lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each
team’s 250 mile march will end at the Royal Albert Hall on 11
November in time for the Royal British Legion
Festival of Remembrance. The teams hope their March For Honour
will raise £1 million to support the work of
the Royal British Legion.
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, will join Patrons of the Royal British
Legion and Civic Dignitaries in Honiton to welcome the Royal
Marine team from Plymouth at 1900 hrs on
Friday 5 November. On Saturday 6 November, he will attend a
Dedication of the March at 0915 hrs at St Paul’s
Church in Honiton High Street and witness the departure at
1000hrs of the Royal Marines for London.
The Royal Marine team will be led by Lance Corporal Ram Patten
who suffered serious post traumatic stress
whilst serving in Afghanistan. He instigated the March For
Honour to raise public awareness and charitable
donations to help those service personnel and their families
affected directly by war. Lance Corporal Patten will
carry a Baton on the march, made from the handle of a stretcher
used by medical teams at Camp Bastion in
Afghanistan, to symbolise the sacrifices made by the Armed
Forces.
ENDS
Contact:
Alan Rowe, Royal British Legion, Honiton
Tel. 01404 47535
Mob. 07789 863773
Email. Alan-rowe@eclipse.co.uk
Web. www.marchforhonour.com
Note for Editor RBL Patron Alan Rowe of Honiton assisted organise the March for
Honour. He used the stretcher handle to
make the Baton which will be carried by Lance Corporal Patton
because he said a stretcher doesn’t discriminate
between friend and foe. “The Baton carries a lot of empathy:
wounded have been carried to safety on them,
sadly died on them and the hands that once held them were bloody
and under fire. If they could talk what could
they say?” |
05.10.10 Press
Release
MEP CHICHESTER TO VISIT GIBRALTAR
7 to 9 October 2010
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, will be visiting Gibraltar from 7th to
9th October to meet with constituents. Appointments have also
been made with Chief Minister Peter
Caruana and Governor Sir Adrian Johns to discuss matters
concerning diplomatic relations with Spain and
economic developments on the Rock.
MEP Chichester is particularly concerned by the threat from the
Mayor of La Linea, a Spanish town
straddling road access to Gibraltar, to impose a toll on all
vehicles entering or leaving the Rock. He will be
crossing the border like any other visitor so as to see the
situation on the ground for himself.
The MEP has sought the assistance of Foreign Secretary William
Hague and European Commission
President José Manuel Barroso to resolve this dispute which he
believes violates EU rules concerning the
free movement of people within the European Community. If
implemented, the toll will cause considerable social and
economic hardship to the people of Gibraltar and those living in
Spanish border communities. It is to the benefit of all, that
free unencumbered movement across the border be maintained.
"The double tragedy of this situation is not just the damage to
the economy of both sides of the border but
the implied reversion to the bad old days of confrontation and
hostility of former times. I call on the
Spanish authorities to resolve the problem."
ENDS |
21.9.10 Press Release
CONSERVATIVE MEPs FORCE EU COMMISSION TO BACK DOWN
ON OIL DRILLING BAN
Conservative MEPs have succeeded in opposing plans by the
European Commission to impose a compulsory
moratorium on deep water oil drilling in all EU Member States.
When the proposal was put before the European
Parliament, the Conservative Parliamentary Delegation
successfully tabled an amendment which made clear that
any oil drilling ban should be voluntary and a matter for each
EU national government to implement.
It is ironical that the Commission should attempt to impose this
oil drilling ban in the same week that the US
Government lifted the moratorium on their offshore oil drilling.
A UK ban could have had serious implications
for our economic recovery and cause hardship for many South West
companies and workers involved in the oil
industry.
Giles Chichester MEP, the Conservative Energy Spokesman in the
European Parliament, said
“There is no need for a moratorium on drilling in EU waters, and
there would have to be firm evidence to
the contrary before any consideration be given to requesting
one.
"This should be an opportunity to review our own procedures and
standards of safety and liability but
European offshore drilling does have a better track record than
in the Gulf of Mexico and that needs to be
taken into consideration too.
"The European Commission must not see this disaster as an
opportunity for a power-grab. There is an
argument for greater cooperation at a European level but
national governments must be free to determine
their own energy mix and, in the UK, oil has an important part
to play in the short term." |
21.9.10 To The Editor
- Letters BELGIUM PENSION TRANSFERS
Dear Editor,
One of the satisfying aspects of my work as an MEP is assisting
constituents in the South West overturn
bureaucratic decisions of European governments. Often it seems
that their decisions appear to ignore
the fact that the UK is an EU Member State.
A case in point was the problem faced by David Magee of
Kingsbridge, who had once worked in
Belgium and wished to have his Belgian state pension paid into
his UK bank account. Not a difficult
problem to resolve one would have thought, for EU rules make it
obligatory for European national
institutions to export the pension benefits of recipients
residing in another EU Member State without any
transfer costs. Unfortunately for Mr Magee, the Belgian
authorities seemed not to be aware of this
ruling and, in fact, did not include UK banks on their list of 7
“approved EU countries” to which they
could transfer pension benefits.
After several months of fruitless negotiations, David Magee
sought my help and I quickly referred his
case to Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier, who took
immediate action and detailed for me
the many pieces of EU legislation that the Belgian government
had infringed in regards Mr Magee’s
pension rights. This information was passed to the Belgian
pension service and the case was settled
quickly to everyone’s satisfaction.
This is just one of the many cases which I have dealt with as an MEP on behalf of my South West
constituents. The problems range from those affecting business
and organisations in their dealings with
EU institutions, to issues concerning private individuals in
regards their European investments and the
problems they experience when visiting Europe. Not all achieve a
satisfactory solution but I do all that I
can to help. |
|
15.9.10 To The Editor
- Letters Dear Editor,
At the end of a Brussels day, with my desk still covered with
reports on the eurozone economies and
proposals to further cut energy usage, a final paper was
delivered. It was an invitation from South West
MEP Graham Watson to join him at a champagne reception he had
organised to celebrate the 10th
anniversary of the European Parliament hairdresser.
I have to admit that my Scottish colleague's hair does look
particularly well coiffed these days. This
may well be a touch of envy on my part, as my scalp is
significantly more open to the elements. Whilst
writing my letter of refusal, a mental image of Graham Watson
emulating the TV advertisement with
Cheryl Cole showing off her shampooed locks and saying “you’re
worth it” flashed through my mind.
However, this was undoubtedly an envious thought for I have
fewer hairs on my head than Graham and I
am unfortunately too busy when in Brussels to take advantage of
the services of the Parliament’s
hairdresser. My precious locks wait until the weekend for the
skilful scissors of my barber, Alan Rowe,
in Honiton.
Giles |
8.9.10 To The Editor -
Letters ROAD TOLL ON ENTERING AND LEAVING THE ROCK
A
dispute between the Spanish Government and the Mayor of La Linea
town on the frontier with
Gibraltar could boil over and create an international crisis
requiring EU action. The dispute centres on
the need for Spanish Government financial assistance for the
near bankrupt frontier town. In an attempt
to embarrass the Government to provide a bail out, the Town
Mayor is proposing to levy a Euro 10 road
toll on entering and leaving the Rock.
It is unclear exactly who it is proposed will have to pay this
toll. Will it be levied on everyone accessing
Gibraltar from Spain, just tourists and Gibraltarians or only
non-Spanish visitors? If the latter, then it is
an obvious case of discrimination but, in any event, the
proposed La Linea toll will be a clear breach of
EU rules regarding the free movement of people. Hopefully, the
Mayor is bluffing to pressure the
Spanish Government into providing the money he says he needs.
But if the bluff fails and the toll is
imposed then it will have a detrimental effect on the local
economies on both sides of the frontier and
create serious diplomatic problems with the sensitive
relationship between Gibraltar and Spain.
I have formally brought the matter to the attention of EU
Commission President Barrosa, with a call for
the European Commission to take action to defuse the crisis. My
South West Conservative colleague
Julia Girling MEP has also written to the Mayor of La Linea
asking him not to proceed with imposing
this illegal road toll which could cause great hardship for
those in his community who work in Gibraltar.
We are working together to assist resolve this potential crisis
which is a cause of concern for the many
friends of Gibraltar and Spain residing in the South West. |
31.8.10 Dear Editor,
WEST COUNTRY COASTLINE CONSERVATION
We should be grateful that this Coalition Government has acted
so swiftly to propose the designation of
four areas of the Westcountry coastline, including Torbay, Lyme
Bay, Plymouth Sound and Land’s End,
as Special Areas of Conservation. They are important, sensitive
habitats for a great variety of sea birds,
mammals such as seals, and include valuable fish and crustacean
breeding grounds. I have often sailed
these waters which are amongst the most beautiful in Britain and
boast a coastline of cliffs, caves, reefs
and sandbanks which teem with marine life.
I strongly support this Government’s objective to include these
Special Areas of Conservation in a
national network of Marine and Coastal Areas which will have the
legislative support of the Marine and
Coastal Access Act. The Westcountry coastline has defined the
socio-economic history of its people. It
is a rich heritage that must be protected. This is good news for
the environment. |
26.8.10 Press Release
MEP CHICHESTER INVESTIGATES
STATE OF SOUTH WEST MANUFACTURING
BRISTOL – FRIDAY 3 SEPTEMBER
The South West branch of EEF, The Manufacturers’ Organisation –
have arranged for Giles Chichester,
Conservative MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, to receive a
briefing on the current state of South West
manufacturing. This will take place at their offices in Bristol
at 11.00 am on Friday 3 September.
A quarter of UK manufacturing businesses are members of EEF, to
whom it provides advice and intelligence on
emerging market trends that are tailored to the individual needs
of companies. It also represents the interests of
the UK manufacturing sector to Government in regards relevant
legislation and policies.
ENDS
Contact:
Clive Turner, Head of External Affairs,
EEF South West
Engineers House, Clifton Down
Bristol BS8 3NB
Tel: 07785 416601
Email: cturner@eef.org.uk
Note for Editor:
The second quarter EEF/BDO ‘Manufacturing Outlook’ report
reveals that the broad based recovery, which began
at the end of 2009, has gathered pace, with 61% of the South
West region’s manufacturers increasing total output,
notably as a result of strong performance in electronics-related
sectors.
Headlines for manufacturers in the South West:
7 in 10 report increased output
UK orders are up by 47%; export orders increased by 67%
48% say recruitment is up
41% are increasing capital expenditure
42% expect growth to continue in the next three months
These are a good set of results. |
26.8.10
Press Release
COMMON SENSE PREVAILS TO PROTECT
ANTIQUE BAROMETER RESTORATION
In 2006, the European Commission issued an EU Directive banning
the use of mercury in measuring instruments.
Although the Directive was generally welcomed to control the
widespread use of this highly toxic pollutant, it was
feared that it would also result in the end of the production of
mercury barometers and, in particular, restoration
work on antique instruments. Barometer production in Britain
dates back to the mid 1600s but today in Britain
there are only 3 recognised craftsmen involved in their making
and restoration.
Conservative MEPs did, however, succeed in driving through the
Parliament an amendment to the Directive
which exempted barometers and other measuring instruments over
50 years old which use mercury. This, it was
hoped, would protect craftsmen involved in the restoration of
these highly decorative and valuable antiques.
However, life is never that simple and it became obvious that
the Government agency responsible for
implementing the Directive required greater clarification about
the work of barometer restoration, particularly in
regards the replacement of integral mercury thermometers.
A campaign, led by Phillip Collins of Devon’s Barometer World
and supported by South West Conservative MEP
Giles Chichester has taken 4 years to achieve resolution. At
long last their efforts have been successful and
common sense has prevailed and restoration of our barometer
heritage can continue.
Giles Chichester would particularly like to compliment the
officials at the Environment Agency South West for
their constructive response to his appeal for a compromise and
flexible approach to interpretation of EU rules. We
need more of this from UK Government and local authority
enforcement agencies.
ENDS
Contact:
Paul G ainey Press Officers, Environment Agency South West Tel:
01392 442085 Email:
paul.gainey@environment-agency.gov.uk |
5.7.10 Press Release
WHERE THERE IS WASTE …….. THERE IS ENERGY!
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, gave the keynote address at
the Biannual Congress of the Confederation of European
Waste-to-Energy Plants held last week in
Antwerp. The participating delegates included Members of the
European Parliament and the EU
Commission, Representatives of EU Member State governments and
those involved in European waste
to energy industries.
In his address, MEP Chichester said that the development of
waste to energy plants needed to be
regarded as an important element of national sustainable
renewable energy programmes. He urged
central and local government authorities in Britain to recognise
that the setting up of waste to energy
plants carried little health or pollution risks since the
process of combustion is different from
incineration and produces negligible emissions. He called upon
UK waste to energy industries to take
positive action to address the social, psychological and
economic objections of the population to its
development, which offered an important source of low cost and
low carbon produced electricity for
communities.
ENDS
Attachment:
The photo shows Giles Chichester MEP addressing the Biannual
Congress of the Confederation of
Waste to Energy Plants in Antwerp
View the speech |
|
5.7.10 Press
Release ENERGY FOR EUROPE: FUELLING GROWTH
(This article by Giles is reproduced by kind permission of the
EU Reporter)
Most people take energy for granted. Until they find themselves
without it or there is some awful
catastrophe like the Gulf of Mexico oil leak. Keeping the lights
on, cars running, planes flying
are the obvious evidence that supply is maintained. Yet the full
significance of energy for our
economy and society can only be made clear through the negative
impact of a power outage or cut
in supply.
Read On |
5.7.10 Press Release
MEP CHICHESTER JOINS CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS FOR BRISTOL AEROPLANE
COMPANY BRISTOL – SATURDAY 10 JULY
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, has been invited to attend the Service
of Celebration for the 100th Anniversary of the founding of
Bristol Aeroplane Company. This will be held in
Bristol Cathedral at 11.00 am on Saturday 10 July and will be
followed by a reception in the Bristol Council
House on College Green.
The event has been organised by BAC 100 and the law firm Veale
Wasbrough Vizards who were the first
employer of Sir George White, the founder of the British Aeroplane
Company.
ENDS
Note for editor:
Aircraft production began at a former tram shed in Filton in 1910,
less than 2 years after the first recorded flight
of a powered aeroplane in British skies. The Boxkite biplane was a
big success for the British and Colonial
Aeroplane Company (BCAC) – renamed the Bristol Aeroplane Company
in 1920.
By the start of World War II, the factory at Filton was the
largest in Europe and its legacy has been handed down
by BAC’s founder, transport entrepreneur Sir George White, to the
likes of Bristol Siddeley, the British Aircraft
Corporation, British Aerospace, Roll-Royce, BAE Systems and
Airbus.
Tom Williams, executive vice-president of Airbus, which now owns
the site, said “Filton’s heritage is one of
inspiration and innovation. For 100 years, we’ve had men and women
designing and building aircraft who never
thought, ‘We can’t do that!’ “Instead, they said, ‘Let’s make it
happen’. The result has been celebrated aircraft
from the Boxkite to Concorde and to the A380”. |
2.7.10
Press Release MEP
CHICHESTER TO ATTEND RESEARCH VESSEL NAMING CEREMONY
PLYMOUTH – SATURDAY 3 JULY
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, will attend the Naming Ceremony of
the Research Vessel Falcon Spirit at 1645 hrs on Saturday 3 July
at Commercial Wharf, Plymouth.
The research vessel has been purchased by the Marine Institute of
the University of Plymouth with the financial
support of the EU Convergence Fund for Economic Transformation.
The name RV Falcon Spirit honours Robert
Falcon Scott, the Plymouthian explorer, who was the first
Englishman to reach the South Pole.
MEP Chichester, who is ECR Co-ordinator of the European Parliament
Energy and Research Committee, has
great interest in the alternative energy research projects that
will involve the use of this research vessel. It will
assist the work of the Peninsular Research Institute for Marine
Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) and initially be
assigned to support work associated with the Wave Hub Project off
the North Cornwall Coast.
ENDS
Contact:
Marine Institute, University of Plymouth
Room 102 Rolle Building, Drake Circus
Plymouth PL4 8AA
Tel. 01752 588938
Email: pde@plymouth.ac.uk |
19.6.10
Press Release ARMED FORCES DAY – TRURO 26
JUNE
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, has accepted the invitation
of Lady Holborrow, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, to join in the
Armed Forces Day celebrations in
Truro on Saturday 26 June.
MEP Chichester said he was very honoured to participate in this
public recognition of the contribution
the Armed Forces have made to the defence of the Nation.
The Day will start at 11.00 am in Truro Cathedral where veterans
will talk during the Service about
their military careers and experiences. This will be followed by a
parade to Lemon Quay where
exhibition stands manned by military personnel will be erected by
various branches of the Armed
Forces. Ends |
4.6.10
To the Editor,
It is hard to believe that the hysterical politician now spouting
anti-British rhetoric is the same calm,
statesmanlike President Obama welcomed into the White House last
year. The past few weeks have
shown up Obama as incapable of handling the oil disaster in the
Gulf of Mexico and, with the mid-term
US elections on the horizon, he has decided to deflect criticism
and court popularity by kicking BP – the
conveniently foreign oil company. Hollywood loves to give the
villain a British accent but this is real
life not the movies!
BP, however, is an international company. It long ago dropped the
name British Petroleum. Around
40% of its shares are held in the USA and it employs tens of
thousands of American workers. The
company is deep drilling for oil in the Gulf to satisfy the thirst
of the USA, the world’s largest oil
consumer, and to comply with the demands of its politicians to cut
dependence on foreign oil imports.
Its subcontractors on Deep Horizon are American companies.
President Obama’s relentless media tirades against BP are
foolishly undermining the financial viability
of the company. Its share price has fallen dramatically and the
capital base has been seriously damaged.
BP funding necessary for the clean-up operation has been put at
risk, as have the retirement savings of
many thousands in the USA and Britain. We needed Prime Minister
David Cameron to have a quiet
word with the President. Let us hope he was successful in
persuading him to calm down. Destroying
the value of “British” BP will neither hasten the end of this
environmental crisis nor pay for all the
damage.
It is hard not to compare the responsible approach of BP, which
has promised to cover all costs and
compensation involved in this disaster, with US company Union
Carbide which 30 years ago fought
tooth and nail to deny responsibility and avoid compensating the
thousands of dead victims of its
chemical factory disaster in Bhopal. On that occasion the US
Government kept well out of the limelight. |
4.6.10
PRESS RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER TO BE BRIEFED ON CAMPAIGN TO END PRIMATE TRADE
WILD FUTURES MONKEY SANCTUARY, LOOE – FRIDAY 11 JUNE AT 2.30 pm
A briefing has been arranged at Cornwall’s Wild Futures Monkey
Sanctuary for Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar, concerning their
campaign to end the legal trade in primates
throughout the European Union. The meeting with Campaign Manager
Brooke Aldrich will be held at the
Sanctuary, near Looe, at 2.30 pm on Friday 11 June.
Wild Futures is a registered UK charity with 50 years experience
as a leader in primate welfare and conservation.
Their primary concern is to end the legal trade of primates, which
has the potential to endanger human health and
put at risk international primate conservation efforts.
ENDS
Contact: Brooke Aldrich, Campaign Manager, Wild futures, Looe,
Cornwall PL13 1NZ
Email: brookealdrich@wildfutures.org
Note for Editors:
There are an estimated 5,000 or more primates kept by private
individuals in the UK today. Primates are
intelligent, socially complex wild animals that suffer greatly in
captivity, but they are currently afforded very
little protection under UK law. What protection does exist is
often flouted or ignored – which presents a
significant risk to human health as well as compromising the
welfare of individual primates. 82% of all rescued
primates residing at Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary in Cornwall
were either improperly licensed or not licensed
at all before arrival at the Sanctuary.
All primates are listed by the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species (CITES) due to the
threat posed by international trade to their continued existence
in the wild. Conservationists working in primate
habitat countries agree that the existence of a legal trade in
primates has a negative impact on wild populations of
primates. Nevertheless, Critically Endangered species such as
cotton-top tamarins continue to be traded as pets
without regulation in the UK. |
3.6.10
LETTER TO THE
EDITOR FIVER MAKES A COMEBACK
Dear Editor,
I am delighted that the Bank of England has taken note of the
complaints of my Constituents and is
instructing the banks to once again make £5 notes available from
the ATM ‘hole in the wall’ cash
machines. To satisfy the obvious demand, Governor Mervyn King is
making arrangements for a new
multi-million printing of the notes to be made available at the
end of the month.
Undoubtedly this economic recession is a prime reason for the
reintroduction of the Fiver into ATMs.
In the good old days when banks thought we all had money to burn,
they independently decided to stuff
the ATMs with high denomination notes. The Fiver was then regarded
by them as ‘loose change’. But
now in a cost conscious Britain, it is back in favour. The one
thing we must not do with loose change is
to hoard it like the banks have been doing. |
25.5.10 PRESS
RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER TO MEET WITH CIDER PRODUCERS
BATH & WEST SHOW – 2ND JUNE
South West Conservative MEP, Giles Chichester, is attending the
Royal Bath and West Show at
Shepton Mallet in Somerset on Wednesday 2 June.
The MEP will respond to an invitation to meet with Westcountry
cider producers at the Orchard
and Cider Pavilion to hear their views on Government taxation
plans for cider. This meeting will
take place at 3.00 pm.
Giles will also hold talks with Julian Temperley of the Somerset
Cider Brandy Company, who is
leading a campaign to have Somerset cider brandy designated a
regional protected product under
the EU Protected Designation of Origin legislation.
To date, the
campaign has stalled due to
France and Spain’s objections.
At 4.30 pm, MEP Chichester has been invited to attend the
presentation of the Marks and
Spencer’s ‘Future of Farming Award’ for young farmers.
ENDS |
12.4.10 PRESS
RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER PLEDGES TO PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE HERITAGE
FRIDAY 9 APRIL – ARNE RSPB RESERVE, WAREHAM
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) arranged for
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South
West England and Gibraltar, to visit the RSPB reserve at Arne,
near Wareham in Dorset on Friday 9 April.
He
toured the reserve accompanied by Conservation Manager Paul
Buckley and Site Manager Dante Munns.
MEP Chichester visited the Arne Reserve in order to sign a pledge
in support of its protection and other Natural
2000 wildlife sites in this 2010 International Year of
Biodiversity to secure the future of our wildlife heritage.
Natura 2000 is a network of wildlife reserves throughout the
European Union which were set up under the EU
Birds and Habitats Directive and enjoy protection under European
Law.
The RESPB reserve at Arne is an amazing landscape of heathland and
very old woodland. It is a bird sanctuary
which also boasts many species protected by EU legislation such as
smooth snakes and sand lizards. ENDS
Contact:
Alistair Taylor
EU Biodiversity Policy Officer,
International Biodiversity Policy Unit,
The RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds, SG19 2DL, UK
Tel: 01767 693450 Mob: 07595 09 22 81 Fax: 01767 683211
www.rspb.org.uk |
25.3.2010 LETTER TO
THE EDITOR Dear Editor,
What is it with banks and bankers? Seemingly not content with
taking us to the edge of financial meltdown
due to over-reaching themselves with very risky loans and then
being bailed out by the longsuffering
taxpayer while carrying on with a bonus bonanza of jaw-dropping
proportions, now they want
to stop two services that are actually useful to ordinary
customers.
Am I the only one to be astounded at their arrogant disregard for
customers’ needs and wants as
demonstrated by their proposal to end payment by cheque and their
refusal to put £5 notes in ATMs.
These measures are to suit the banks’ convenience, not their
customers and are typical of how out of
touch they seem.
Let us fight back. I urge everyone to contact, write to or visit
their bank to demand a reversal of the
cheque decision or, at the very least, a detailed explanation of
how those of us who depend on this
means of payment are to cope without it. Are we to phone our bank
with our debit card details when
making every purchase? Will the banks expect small business and
market traders to have computers
available with BACS software when making transactions?
As for the hole in the wall machines and the lack of fivers, I
urge people to take the tenners and twenties
they get from the ATM in to a bank and ask for them to be
exchanged for £5 notes. Then wait for the
next pieces of churlish behaviour towards customers! |
12.3.2010 PRESS RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER SUPPORTS BRITISH TOURISM WEEK AT CREALY ADVENTURE
PARK
CLYST ST MARY, EXETER FRIDAY 19 MARCH
To show support for South West tourism businesses during British
Tourism Week, Giles Chichester,
Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar, will be
visiting Crealy Great Adventure Park at 3.00
pm on Friday 19 March. He will be meeting with Angela Wright MBE,
the Founder and Managing Director of
Crealy Great Adventure Parks at Clyst St Mary, near Exeter.
Crealy Great Adventure Park employs over 200 people of which 40
are full time local employees. This year,
the Devon theme park celebrates the 21st anniversary of its
foundation.
Tourism business contributes over £9 billions to the South West
economy, employing 195,000 full-time and
68,000 part-time workers who comprise 10% of total regional
employment.
ENDS
Contact:
Helen Mortimer-Wale Crealy Great Adventure Park
Sidmouth Road
Clyst St Mary EX5 1DR
Tel: 01395 234885
Email: helenmw@crealy.co.uk
Note for editor:
British Tourism Week takes place between Monday 15 and Sunday 21
March, celebrating the contribution of
tourism to the local and national economies. It is Britain’s fifth
largest industry, employing directly or indirectly
2.7 million people and contributing £114 billion to the national
economy. |
11.3.2010 LETTER TO
THE EDITOR
This week, European ministers have passed a new EU funding
facility for people who have lost their
jobs and want to build their own business, but cannot gain access
to credit.
The European Microfinance Facility will have a starting budget of
about 90 million pounds but it should
be able to leverage extra money - up to 450 million pounds - from
other international institutions such as
the European Investment Bank. It is expected that the fund will be
able to provide around 45,000 loans
over the next eight years. Anyone accessing the fund will be given
help with a business plan and
coaching.
Entrepreneurs and so-called micro-enterprises are the lifeblood of
the economy and they should be
supported. Conservative MEPs supported this fund, although we had
initially asked for it to be
reallocated from another budget line. Now that it is in place, I
want as many budding entrepreneurs in
the South West to access it and I call on the British government
to move swiftly to put in place a portal
for people to access the funding. |
1.3.2010 PRESS RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER TO VISIT AIRBUS SITE, BRISTOL
FILTON – FRIDAY 5 MARCH
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, has been invited to visit the
Airbus Centre of Excellence site at Filton, Bristol on Friday 5
March at 11.00 am. He will be met by
Rachel Bloomer, the Government Affairs Assistant, and taken on a
tour of the site to meet with directors
and personnel involved in design, business support services and
research.
The Airbus sites at Filton, Bristol and Broughton, North Wales are
part of the Centre of Excellence –
Wings/Pylon – working together with Airbus sites in Bremen,
Germany and St Eloi, Toulouse.
Approximately 140,000 jobs are generated in the UK by Airbus wing
work directly, as well as indirectly,
through supplier contracts.
ENDS
Contact:- Rachel Bloomer, Government Affairs Assistant,
Airbus, New Filton House, Filton, Bristol BS99 7AR (Tel. 0117 936
2826)
Note for editor:
At Airbus Filton, over 4,500 people are employed in the design
office and in business support roles such
as procurement, finance and customer service. Core activities at
Filton include the design, engineering
and support for Airbus wings, fuel systems and landing gear
integration. Teams also work on systems,
structures, and aerodynamics research, development and test
facilities.
More than 2,000 engineers at Filton are involved in a range of
areas, including wing integration, flight
physics, structures and systems. Filton also is responsible for
wing assembly and equipping for the
A400M multi-role airlifter, and is home to a Composites Structures
Development Centre. |
24.02.10 PRESS RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER TO VISIT TORR QUARRY IN
SOMERSET
SHEPTON MALLET – 26 FEBRUARY
Aggregate Industries has arranged for Giles Chichester,
Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar,
to visit Torr Quarry, the largest of the three quarries it
operates in Somerset. The MEP will be meeting with John
Penny, South West Estate Manager, and Andy Shakeshaft, the Works
Manager at 2.30 pm on Friday 26 February.
Aggregate Industries is a subsidiary of the Swiss based Holcim
Group. Torr Quarry covers 200 hectares and
employs 200 people producing 6 million tonnes of limestone
annually. Currently it is seeking planning
permission to deepen the quarry in order to increase production.
ENDS
Contact:
John Perry, SW Estates Manager
Tel: 01372 451001, Mob: 07802 258144 Torr Quarry
East Cranmore
Shepton Mallet
Somerset BA4 4SQ
Note for Editors:
Aggregate Industries UK Ltd. operates in 300 locations in the UK
and employs 6,500 people. It produces and
supplies aggregates and building materials to the construction
industry in the United Kingdom, the Channel
Islands, and Norway. It provides primary, secondary, and recycled
construction aggregates; asphalt; ready-mixed
concrete; hard landscaping products; flooring; blocks; and
pre-cast concrete products. The company also offers
surfacing and civil contracting services, including construction
of environmental and drainage projects, structural
roads, and car parks; earthworks; runway construction and
maintenance; and roads laying and maintenance. |
24.01.10 PRESS RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER TO ATTEND
CORNWALL COLLEGE GRADUATION CEREMONY
TRURO CATHEDRAL - 30 JANUARY
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, has been invited to attend Cornwall
College’s Graduation Ceremony on Saturday 30 January 2010. The
proceedings will commence at 11.00 a.m. in
Truro Cathedral.
The Ceremony will celebrate the success of Cornwall College
graduates from the Camborne, Saltash, Newquay
and St. Austell Campuses, as well as Duchy College, the School of
Education and the Falmouth Marine School.
ENDS
Contact:
Dave Linnell OBE
CEO and Principal, Cornwall College
Tel: 01726 226726
Email: info@st-austell.ac.uk
Note for Editor:
• The Cornwall College Group serves 45,000 students, of which
1,700 follow university courses on 7 main
campuses and a number of specialised colleges offering access to
3,000 different courses. It is a key
player in the devolved structure of the Combined Universities of
Cornwall.
• The College Group provides education and training in support of
many EU Objective I projects and
programmes, particularly in the fields of vocational and
professional education. It is a major contributor
to the economic development of the County and one of its largest
employers with over 2,800 staff. |
21.01.10 PRESS RELEASE
MEP CHICHESTER TO VISIT GLOUCESTERSHIRE AIRPORT
STAVERTON, CHELTENHAM – 25 JANUARY
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, has been invited to review the
development plans for Gloucestershire Airport. He will be briefed
by Gerry Gearing, Chairman of
Gloucestershire Airport Ltd and Mark Ryan, the Airport Director,
at 11.00 am on Monday 25 January.
Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucester City Council are the
principal shareholders in Gloucestershire
Airport Ltd.
ENDS
Contacts:
Gerry Gearing, Chairman Gloucestershire Airport Ltd Tel.
0783351377
Mark Ryan, Airport Director Tel. 01452 857700
Email: mryan@gloucestershireairport.co.uk
Address: Terminal Building, Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton,
Cheltenham GL51 6SR
Note for Editor:
• Gloucestershire Airport are about to embark on a major runway
safety project which aligns the Airport with
current legislation and helps secure its future. The end result
will create a safe, fully compliant Code 2 runway
equipped with an industry standard precision approach landing aid.
The proposals would support increased
training, corporate and scheduled flying activities. It would also
further advance the County’s growing
reputation and attractiveness to major commercial investors. In
2008 the University of Gloucestershire, on
behalf of Gloucester City Council, were asked to revisit an
earlier report entitled ‘The Economic Impact of
Gloucestershire Airport’. The main findings of the updated report
were:
o 340 jobs, a large proportion of which are highly skilled, are
directly linked to aviation operations at the
airport;
o Employment in the vicinity of the airport accounts for a further
3600+ jobs which are not operationally
linked to the airport;
o The airport cluster (sectoral & locational) contributes an
estimated maximum of £212m. GVA p.a. to the
local economy. The airport itself generates £18m. The cluster
represents about 1.9% of the GVA of the
Gloucestershire economy, which is about the same as its percentage
of the workforce; |
14.01.10 Dear Editor,
BARBECUE SUMMER /MILD WINTER
The Met Office forecast that the “barbecue summer” in 2009 would
be followed by a “mild winter”.
Both predictions were disastrously wrong. We have experienced the
wettest summer and the coldest
winter spell for decades. What is the betting on their prediction
“that 2010 will be the warmest year”
since records began? My advice is to invest in a barometer.
Although we may laugh about the latest false predictions of the
Met Office, their difficulties in
predicting forthcoming bad weather has serious national, economic
and social implications. Business
depends upon effective road, rail and air transport and,
therefore, needs reliable information to calculate
how they will be affected by adverse weather conditions. If, for
example, local authorities are not
warned in advance about a prolonged period of freezing
temperatures then they may not have available
the salt and grit necessary to keep the roads free from ice. The
recent closure of roads and airport
runways, the breakdown of trains and multi car accidents all bear
witness to the failings of the Met
Office to give adequate warning of adverse weather conditions.
Their ineptitude has cost the country
millions.
Is it time for the Government to investigate the workings of the
Met Office? In recent years, it appears
to have concentrated its resources on trying to prove its global
warming computer predicted theory at the
expense of doing the job for which it was intended – predicting
local weather. Mind you, in the light of
its failure to predict the big freeze, one is tempted to query the
accuracy of its predictions of imminent
global warming. |
17.12.09 WASTE TO
ENERGY Dear Editor Next month, I shall be presiding over a
debate in the European Parliament on the subject of
energy from waste. The presentation by the European Waste to
Energy Association (EWEA)
should serve to remind us how sensible and useful it is to convert
our non-recyclable
domestic waste into energy.
The waste to energy process is an
important source of renewable energy. It kills two birds
with one stone by dealing with waste we are no longer allowed to
send to land fill by turning
this rubbish into energy, usually electricity or district heating.
A win-win situation.
Yet at the first hint of a planning application for a
waste-to-energy plant, people are up in
arms in opposition. They have an old-fashioned mental image,
prompted by the word
‘incineration’, of billowing clouds of black smoke and smut
everywhere.
We need to break
away from this negativism and embrace modern technology.
I have had the opportunity of seeing waste-to-energy or
energy-from-waste plants in
operation in Europe, in places as far apart as Vienna in Austria
and Linkoping in Sweden.
They are clean and virtually emission free. It is a pity that
those objecting to plans for waste-to-
energy plants in the South West cannot see for themselves the
effectiveness of this
renewable energy process. The sooner we can build a plant here in
the South West utilising
the latest technologies the better. Let’s get on with it and show
the world that we are at long
last beginning to develop a viable renewable energy programme.
|
14.12.09 MISS
GIBRALTAR Dear Editor, Midst all the messages of doom and
gloom about climate change, there was one piece of good news on
my desk this morning. Miss Gibraltar had won the Miss World title.
Judging from her press photographs, the victory of the very
beautiful Miss Kaiane Adorino was well
deserved. I offer her my congratulations and join with the people
of Gibraltar in celebration of this
historic victory.
The victory of Miss Adorino, who is a British National, is not
only celebrated by the people of Gibraltar
but also by the people of England.
At this time of economic
recession, her success is a reason for
celebration.
I send Miss Kaiane Adorino and her family all my best wishes for a
Happy Christmas and hope that as
Miss World she will enjoy an exciting New Year. Ends |
|
09.12.09 FLAT EARTH
FOLLOWERS Dear Editor, It appears that, as being something of
a climate change sceptic, I am one of the large majority of people
in Britain who Gordon Brown describes as ‘flat earth’ followers.
This is unsurprising, for over the past
decade we have been subject to so much government spin and
misinformation that it is impossible to
give credence to the integrity of government statements on any
significant issue, including climate
change.
Read on |
27.11.09 GET RICH
QUICK SCAM Dear Editor,
I have received a personal letter from a Mr Lin Ling, who claims
to be the Principal Assurance Manager
for the Nangang Commercial Bank in China. He tells me that he can
arrange for me to be the
beneficiary of the estate valued at 8 million US dollars of Alfred
Chichester who died several years ago.
As poor Alfred died intestate with no next of kin, it could be
arranged that I would receive this money
which is on deposit at the Guangdong Development Bank.
My scepticism increased as I read that Mr Ling insisted his
involvement in the process had to be kept
confidential. He would, however, arrange everything including
contacts for me with the Guangdong
Development Bank to verify my identity and home bank details. His
fee for acting as intermediary
would be half the money that I received.
My rule in life where money offers are concerned is “if it is too
good to be true, then it usually is”!
Under no circumstances will I give my identity or personal
financial details to anyone who appears to be
offering me a pot of gold. I have received variations on this scam
from Africa and India and all have
ended up in my waste paper basket. I urge your readers to do the
same. Be warned that these scams
are becoming very sophisticated. Before passing on any financial
details to those inviting you to get rich
quick, do take advice from your bank. |
25.11.09
EU PRESIDENCY Dear Editor,
News of the appointment of Belgian President HermanVan Rompuy as
the first ‘President of Europe’
and Trade Commissioner Baroness Ashton as his ‘Foreign Secretary’
seems to have been greeted with
widespread disbelief. The public reaction when their names were
announced was a mystified “Who?”
However, the reality behind these appointments is the reluctance
of the European Council to be seen to
be moving towards a European federal state. The appointment of
high profile politicians to these
positions would have confirmed to the ultra-eurosceptics that the
Lisbon Treaty was indeed the next step
towards creating a European federal superstate. The fact is that
Sarkozy, Merkle and the other EU heads
of government are not at the moment prepared to tolerate their
positions as European leaders being
challenged and usurped by a populist EU President with a
significant international reputation for
charisma.
As things stand, this latest EU stitch up should give comfort to
the eurosceptics that, for the time being,
the nation state still holds sway over the superstate. But we
should stay vigilant. |
|
25.10.09
MEP CHICHESTER OFFERS DIALOGUE ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for South West England and
Gibraltar, has installed the latest interactive
technology on his website to provide constituents with a better
opportunity for dialogue with him on important
issues. He has introduced the Google Moderator interactive video
system, which allows visitors to the website to
be involved in question and answer sessions with him and also to
vote on the issues raised.
MEP Chichester has chosen Climate Change as the first of a series
of topics to be discussed via the Google
Moderator. It is a serious issue for in December the deliberations
of the International Climate Change Conference
to be held in Copenhagen will undoubtedly have a considerable
effect on our government’s future social and
economic policies.
The parliamentary constituency of the MEP covers a huge
geographical area, stretching from Swindon to the Isles
of Scillies and from Tewkesbury to Gibraltar. The great distances
involved make it quite a challenge for him to
meet and talk with his constituents. He hopes this new website
facility will help to improve the flow of
information about their views and his parliamentary work.
The Google Moderator interactive facility can be accessed on
www.gileschichestermep.org.uk .
ENDS |
|
23.10.09
MEP CHICHESTER TO BE BRIEFED ON SOUTH WEST ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
EXETER – FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER
A meeting has been arranged for Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP
for South West England and
Gibraltar, to be briefed on environmental issues affecting the
South West Region.
On Friday 30 October at 9.00 am, the MEP will meet for discussions
with Richard Cresswell, Regional
Director of the Environment Agency and Janette Ward, Regional
Director of Natural England at their
offices in Bonhay Road, Exeter.
ENDS
Contact:
Hilary Howell
PS to Janette Ward
Level 10
Renslade House
Bonhay Road
Exeter EX4 3AW
Tel 0300 060 2118
Or
01392 457400
Email:
hilary.howell@naturalengland.org.uk |
22.10.09
MEP CHICHESTER TO BE BRIEFED BY NFU ON
CURRENT AGRICULTURAL ISSUES
EXETER – 28 OCTOBER
A briefing meeting on current agricultural issues has been
arranged for Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP
for South West England and Gibraltar, by the National Farmers
Union South West at 12 noon on Wednesday
28 October at their regional office in Rydon Lane, Exeter. Julie
Edwards, who is the NFU Regional Policy Adviser for the South West
and the NFU Senior Food and
Farming Adviser, will lead the briefing by NFU specialists.
ENDS
Contact:
NFU South West
Agriculture House
Pynes Hill
Rydon Lane
Exeter
Tel 01392 440700
Email:
NFU.South.West@nfu.org.uk |
|
19.10.09 CONSERVATIVE
MEP GILES CHICHESTER TO SPEAK AT THE ENTERPRISE FORUM
LONDON – MONDAY 26 OCTOBER
Giles Chichester, MEP for South West England and Gibraltar, will
participate as a speaker in a panel
discussion on “Industry, the Internal Market and Environment”
organised by the Enterprise Forum. This will
take place at 1430 hours on Monday 26 October at the Church House
Conference Centre in Westminster.
MEP Chichester is Coordinator for the European Conservative and
Reformist Group on the Industry,
Research and Energy Committee of the European Parliament. He is
also Energy Spokesman for the
British Conservative Delegation in the Parliament.
The Enterprise Forum was set up to improve the flow of information
between the business community and
Conservative Parliamentarians in order to assist the Conservative
Party produce better informed policies and
legislation.
ENDS |
|
12.10.09 MEP
CHICHESTER TO ATTEND GIBRALTAR DAY CELEBRATIONS
LONDON – MONDAY 19 OCTOBER Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP for
South West England and Gibraltar, has been invited to attend the
Gibraltar Day celebrations on Monday 19 October in the City of
London.
An evening reception, hosted by Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter
Caruana, will take place in the Guildhall at
1800 hours.
The Royal Gibraltar Regiment will perform the sunset ceremony in
the Guildhall Courtyard at 1930 hours.
ENDS |
|
12.10.09 Press Release
MEP CHICHESTER TO MEET WITH SOUTH WEST FOOD & DRINK
EXETER – FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER
Christine Marshall, the Executive Director of South West Food &
Drink, has requested Giles Chichester,
MEP for South West England and Gibraltar, to meet her to discuss
SWFD involvement in a European Project.
The meeting will take place at Darts Farm, Topsham at 1300 hours
on Friday 16 October.
South West Food & Drink are applying to participate in the EU
FoodTURE-S Project, which will bring
together 9 European Cities and Regions that are committed to
developing innovative policies to protect and
promote traditional regional foods as part of their cultural
heritage. The South West Regional Development
Authority is providing the funding to enable SWFD to engage in the
project.
read
on |
|
07.10.09 Press Letter
Dear Editor
My discussions with constituents in the South West reveal a wide
divergence of views on the issue of
climate change. Many are not convinced about global warming and
argue that warnings of the melting
of Polar ice packs and future rises in sea levels are not borne
out by the scientific evidence. Others point
to our wet, humid summers and local flooding as a foretaste of the
increasing effects of climate change.
The majority are, like me, confused by messages of doom from
experts who issue statements based upon
the latest climate predictions of their computer programmes. These
are always prefaced by words such
as should, could or may, thus emphasising by the vagueness of the
language the inadequate foundations
of their research.
read
on |
|
06.10.09 Press Release
MEP CHICHESTER SUPPORTS SWIFT MEDIC ROADSHOW
SWINDON 10 OCTOBER
The SWIFT Medics and Safe Driving Stay Alive charities have
invited Giles Chichester, MEP for the South West
and Gibraltar, to their fundraising roadshow which will be held on
Friday 10 October at 7.30 pm in the Lexus
Showroom, Paddington Drive in Swindon.
read
on |
|
06.10.09 Press Release
SOUTH WEST MEP TO ATTEND BRITAIN-AUSTRALIA CIVIC EVENTS
BATH – 9 OCTOBER
The West Country Branch of the Britain-Australia Society will be
holding civic events at Bathampton and Bath to
celebrate on 9 October the birth of Admiral Arthur Phillip RN, the
first Governor General of New South Wales.
Giles Chichester, MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, will join
with dignitaries including Adam McCarthy,
Deputy High Commissioner for Australia, and David Medlock, Deputy
Lieutenant of Somerset at a civic
reception given by the Trustees of the City of Bath and hosted by
the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Colin and
Pamela Barrett, commencing at 12.15 pm in the Guildhall.
read
on |
|
01.10.09 Press Release MEP
CHICHESTER VISIT TO FALMOUTH IN SUPPORT OF
THE SAILADAY OK CHARITY
FRIDAY 2 OCTOBER Giles Chichester, MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, is visiting Falmouth on Friday 2 October. He will be
meeting Richard Lannowe Hall, the founder and manager of the
Cornish charity Sailaday OK, at 4.00 pm outside the
Harbour Office in Arwenack Street.
The MEP wishes to show his support for the Sailaday OK charity
which helps those recovering from drug and
alcohol abuse. The therapeutic work of the charity takes place on
board a yacht which is crewed by recovering
addicts and cruises the coasts of South West Cornwall.
read
on |
|
30.9.09 Dear Editor
COPENHAGEN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE In anticipation of the
Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December, it seems that
every Tom,
Dick & John has set out to prove their green credentials. The
‘John’ to whom I refer is our former
Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, who has recently secured an
appointment as Special
Representative on Climate Change by the Council of Europe. Our
John has ambitions to take upon
himself the mantle of eco warrior Al Gore. He is advocating that
Britain reject EU policy for a 20% cut
in greenhouse gases by 2020 in favour of a 40% decrease. This is a
ridiculously unrealistic target which,
if it were to be implemented, could send Britain into an even
deeper economic recession.
read on |
|
23.9.09 Press Release.
MEP CHICHESTER VISIT TO ISLES OF SCILLY FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER Giles
Chichester, MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, will be visiting
St. Martin’s and St Mary’s
on the Isles of Scilly on Friday 25 September.
His programme, arranged by the Council of the Isles, will involve
briefings by Councillors and the
Chief Executive Phillip Hygate and his staff about the Islands’
current social and economic issues
and, in particular, tourism. MEP Chichester has been invited by Headmaster Bruce Wilby to meet
with him at Five Island
School. The Headmaster has arranged for Giles to talk to the
students about his responsibilities as
an MEP and to explain the working of the European Parliament.
ENDS Contact: Rhona Holland, PA to the Chief Executive, Council of the Isles of Scilly
Tel: 01720 424024;
Mobile: 077 8635 5048 |
|
15.9.09 Press Release
BACK LEAVE IF SICK WHILST ON HOLIDAY South West small businesses
will be hit by EU court ruling. Giles Chichester, MEP for the
South West and Gibraltar, has condemned a ruling by the European
Court
of Justice which says workers should be able to claim back leave
if they fall sick whilst on holiday. He
said the ruling will create a legal minefield for local businesses
and especially small businesses.
The court was passing judgment on the case of a Spanish employee
who was refused the right to alter his
holiday plans because he suffered injury before he was due to take
his leave. The court in Luxembourg
ruled he should have been able to alter his holiday dates.
read on |
28.8.09 Dear Editor
LIGHT BULB BAN
It is often difficult for me to control my anger at the
irresponsible way in which this Government has
rushed into adopting so-called eco-friendly legislation to prove
their green credentials. They pay little
regard to expert advice or the views of the British people and, in
consequence, have made a dog’s
breakfast of Government policies to reduce carbon emissions and
develop a green, sustainable energy
supply.
Their latest debacle involves the implementation of the EU
Directive to ban incandescent light bulbs by
2012 and replace them with energy efficient fluorescent bulbs.
When this legislation was introduced,
the European Parliament made clear that the implementation date
for the ban was a matter for the British
Government.
read on |
|
21.7.09 MEP SPANISH
VISIT TO GIBRALTAR MEP Chichester says Spanish visit to
Gibraltar must herald era of cooperation with Spain .Commenting on
today's first visit of a Spanish Minister to Gibraltar in over 300
years, Giles Chichester,
Conservative MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, said:
"Spain may never lift its claims over Gibraltar, but Britain must
remain resolute that it will never
hand over Gibraltar so long as Gibraltarians wish to remain
British.
"There may be a stalemate over sovereignty but that should not
stand in the way of amicable
cooperation with Spain. The 2006 tripartite agreement was
generally well-received in Gibraltar
and should be built upon.
"I trust that we can now agree to disagree and that Spain can end
some of the petty taunts against
Gibraltar such as incursions into her territorial waters or the
attempt to encompass Gibraltar's
waters into Spain's a maritime conservation area."
ENDS |
|
6.7.09 Dear
Editor MISSING CHILD ALERT SERVICE The abduction of Madeleine McCann in May 2007 spurred
Conservatives in the European Parliament to
promote new European procedures to deal with missing children. The
Council of Ministers have
adopted our proposal and are calling upon all EU Member State
Governments to introduce a missing
child alert service as soon as possible.
When the alert is activated, a missing child telephone hotline
will be set up and details about the child
will be forwarded to border and customs authorities and law
enforcement agencies, as well as all press
and media. It is proposed that the EU Member State governments
will also set up a common
organisation to co-ordinate these national efforts.
To date, the Greek, Portuguese, Dutch, Hungarian, Romanian and
Belgian governments have acted to
establish mechanisms for the child alert, including a common116000
hotline phone number. It is now
up to the UK Government to follow their example. I would suggest
your readers lobby their MPs to put
pressure on the UK Government to also take urgent action to
introduce this important service. ENDS. |
|
6.7.09 Dear Editor THE
DEVELOPMENT OF NEWQUAY AIRPORT I am relieved that the EU
Commission has decided to approve the revised plans and budget for
the
development of Newquay Airport and has confirmed it will provide
£22.5 million towards the cost of
this essential infrastructure project. We had every reason to be
concerned about the future of the Airport project because of the
gross
mismanagement by Cornwall’s former LibDem Council in regards its
transfer to civilian control. The
failure of the LibDem Council, who were aptly described by Ryan
Air as the Keystone Cops, to ensure
the safe transfer of MOD air traffic control services resulted in
the ignominious shut down of the airport
throughout last December. To overcome this disaster, it was not
only necessary to obtain increased
public funding for the project but also to restore EU confidence
in the integrity of the plans for the future
of air services in the County. This has been achieved through the
efforts of the new Conservative-led
Unitary Authority and I congratulate them.
The construction and expansion of Cornwall’s Newquay Airport will
greatly improve the County’s
transport infrastructure. This development will lead to an
increase in Cornwall’s regional and
international air links, benefitting commercial activities within
the County and providing opportunities
for increased employment. ENDS. |
3.7.09
EU'S SEED-CORN INVESTMENT IN ENTREPRENEURS WELCOMED
The new microfinance facility launched by the European Commission
today, which aims to help
the unemployed start their own business, has been welcomed by
Conservative industry spokesman
in the European Parliament, Giles Chichester MEP for the South
West and Gibraltar.
The fund of €100 million will be used to assist new start-ups and
to provide support and guidance
to small businesses and entrepreneurs. It is expected to lever
€500 million of support under a joint
initiative with the European Investment Bank and other financial
institutions. The fund should be
operational by 2010.
MEP Chichester said:
"Small businesses and entrepreneurs will pull our economies out of
this recession. This fund
is a small seed corn for people who want to help themselves and
provide employment for
others.
"British small businesses currently employ around 60 percent of
the private sector
workforce. Many people have tried to turn their ideas into a
business or expand, but without
support from the banks many have floundered. This fund will easily
pay for itself and will
create a strong foundation for economic growth in the future.
"We must do our best to pass this facility swiftly through the
parliament. Many small
businesses need the support as soon as possible."
ENDS
The Commission's announcement can be read at
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1070&type=HTML&aged=0&language
=EN&guiLanguage=en Contact:
James Holtum, Conservative Press Office, tel:+32 (0) 473 861762;
james.holtum@europarl.europa.eu |
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01.7.09 MEP CHICHESTER
CALLS ON LOCAL SCHOOLS TO PLANT THE SEEDS FOR A GREENER EUROPE
South West Conservative MEP, Giles Chichester, has called on the
youth of the South West to take part
in a campaign to protect the environment by planting tree
seedlings.
Under the "Click a Tree" campaign free seedlings will be sent to
the first 5,000 aged 14-29 years who
apply at the website:
www.clickatree.europa.eu.
Those who are too late for a free seedling can still take part by
purchasing their own seeds and
registering the tree on the website. Their tree will then be
entered into a competition judged by a public
vote.
MEP Chichester said that in the run up to the all-important United
Nations Climate Change Conference
in Copenhagen this December, it is more important than ever for
people to take direct action to improve
the environment.
South West Conservative MEP Chichester said:
"Around nine billion tonnes of CO2 is absorbed by trees every
year, but nearly two billion tonnes
are released through deforestation.
"We must all play our part in improving the environment and what
better way is there than
planting a tree?
"The youth of the South West will be able to join with thousands
across Europe who want to send
a clear message that politicians of today have a duty to protect
the environment and their future.
"I strongly urge all young people across the Region to take part
in the ‘Click-a-Tree’ initiative."
ENDS |
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30.6.09 EU AGREEMENT
REACHED ON STANDARDISING OF MOBILE PHONE CHARGERS
Giles Chichester, MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, welcomed
the decision by 10 major mobile phone
manufacturers to introduce a common standard charger for their
phones. The manufacturers Apple, Nokia,
Motorola, Sony Ericcson, NEC, Texas Instruments, LG, Samsung and
Research in Motion have agreed with the
European Commission to introduce the new standardised charger onto
the market next year. MEP Chichester said
“Common sense has prevailed. This simple agreement will not only
make users’ lives easier in that they
won’t have to worry about finding a compatible charger for their
phone, but it should help cut down
electronic waste. I have a drawer full of various non-compatible
chargers which I will soon b e able to
recycle.”
ENDS |
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8.6.09 SOUTH
WEST CONSERVATIVES SECURE ADDITIONAL SEAT at the
European Parliament.
Giles Chichester, Julie Girling and Ashley Fox to offer strong
voice for the region in Europe. The South West Conservatives secured a significant result in last
nights European Elections, gaining one seat to send three MEPs to Brussels. Giles Chichester, Julie Girling and Ashley Fox
have been elected to serve the region after the
Conservatives secured 30 per cent of the vote in the South West...
read on |
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21.5.09 MEP
CHICHESTER VISITS BRISTOL PORT COMPANY TO BE BRIEFED ON EXPANSION
PLANS Giles Chichester visited the Bristol Port Company which
owns the Avonmouth and Royal Portlebury Dock Estate. The MEP met
with Chairman Terence Morduant who,
together with partner David Ord, purchased a 150 year lease on the
Estate in 1991 from Bristol City Council...
read on
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21.5.09 SOUTH WEST MANUFACTURERS TELL MEP CHICHESTERTHEY NEED MORE EU SUPPORT
Manufacturers across the South West are hoping that South West
Conservative MEP, Giles Chichester, can enlist greater EU
support for industry across the Region.
South West business leaders were invited to meet MEP Chichester at
the Bristol Headquarters of the Engineers Employers
Federation (EEF), which represents manufacturers. They took the
opportunity to lobby the MEP about wage subsidies and
the need for business friendly regulations...
read on |
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20.5.09
MEP CHICHESTER SUPPORTS THE HORIZONS CHILDREN’S
SAILING CHARITY IN PLYMOUTH
At the end of his visit to the Horizons Children’s Sailing Charity
in Plymouth, South West Conservative MEP,
Giles Chichester, expressed great admiration for the work done by
its volunteers in giving deprived and disabled
young people a taste of life afloat...
read on
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14.5.09 MEP CHICHESTER VISITS ALBEMARLE CHEMICALS TO ASSESS EFFECT
OF NEW EU CHEMICALS REGULATIONS ON THE INDUSTRY Giles Chichester, visited Albemarle Chemicals UK at Avonmouth
and met with Site Manager Adrian Hayman...
read on
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13.5.09 SEARASER
Dear Editor
The Westcountry boasts a long history of notable inventors whose
creations have benefited mankind.
Those of Sir Humphrey Davy, Richard Trevithick and Charles Babbage are
but a few which spring to
mind. A recent addition could be Alvin Smith of Dartmouth whose Searaser
energy system may
contribute greatly to supporting not only UK energy needs but also those
of the developing world.
Read on
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8.5.09
MEP CHICHESTER CHALLENGES EU COMMISSION ON NEW
ENERGY EFFICIENCY LABELLING PROPOSAL
Proposals by the European Commission to revise the energy
labelling scheme for white goods have been
opposed by Giles Chichester, the MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, who is Conservative Energy
Spokesman in the European Parliament.
Currently, most white goods such as televisions and refrigerators
have improved their energy efficiency
to the point where they qualify for an A category rating...
read on |
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2.5.09 SHADOW MINISTER FOR EUROPE VISITS PLYMOUTH FISH MARKET
Shadow Cabinet Minister for Europe, Mark Francois MP, accompanied
by Oliver Colville,
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Devonport and Sutton, and
Giles Chichester, the
Conservative MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, yesterday
visited Plymouth Fish Market at
Sutton Harbour Fisheries.
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30.4.09 LABOUR MEPS PUT UK OPT OUT FROM WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE AT
RISK
Giles Chichester, the Conservative MEP for the South West and
Gibraltar, angrily denounced the actions
of British Labour MEPs who successfully campaigned for a majority
vote in the European Parliament
against the UK opt out from the EU Working Time Directive. He said
the vote to scrap the UK opt out
meant that British workers would only be permitted to work a
maximum of 48 hours per week...
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27.4.09
CONSERVATIVES LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FOR EU CONSTITUTION REFERENDUM This Government must grant the British people a referendum on the
EU Constitution said Giles Chichester,
Conservative MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, following David
Cameron’s call for Gordon Brown to
honour Labour’s manifesto commitment...
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25.4.09 EU
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ADOPT A CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN TO PROTECT
THE SHARK Conservative MEPs have been leading a campaign for the adoption of
the long awaited Shark Action
Plan. The plan will enforce the protection and management of the
shark population, both in EU and
international waters. It will also provide a framework for further
scientific research and understanding of
sharks and their vital place in the ecosystem...
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25.4.09
MEPs APPROVE PLANS FOR CROSS BORDER HEALTHCARE DIRECTIVE South West Conservative MEP, Giles Chichester, said that
Conservative MEPs have successfully driven the
adoption by the European Parliament of a new EU Directive for
cross border healthcare. Now patients in the
South West will find it easier to seek medical care in Europe if
their needs are not being met by the NHS.25.4.09 ...
read on |
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22.4.09 MOBILE
PHONE ROAMING 'bill shock' brought to an end thanks to
Conservative MEPs MEP Giles Chichester, Conservative industry
spokesman in the European Parliament, said today that the days of
mobile phone 'bill shock' are almost over following a vote in the
European Parliament to bring down roaming charges for text
messages and data...
read on |
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18.4.09 CUTTING
RED TAPE FOR BUSINESS Business in Britain is groaning under the weight
of red tape and regulations. The Federation of Small Business estimates
that the average small business spends 7 hours each week dealing with
regulations and paperwork.
read on ....
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16.4.09 EASIER ACCESS TO EU HEALTHCARE
SERVICES
The European Parliament is expected to adopt recommendations by
its Environment and Public Health Committee
for an EU Directive which will clarify the rights of EU citizens
seeking healthcare throughout the European
Union...
read on
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9.4.09 MEP CHICHESTER CALLS FOR YOUNGEST MEP TO BECOME 'FATHER OF
THE HOUSE' A row in the European Parliament over the prospect of
Jean Marie Le Pen, leader of the far-right French
National Front, becoming the 'father' of the Parliament should be
seen as an opportunity to replace him
with the youngest member said Giles Chichester, Conservative MEP
for South West and Gibraltar...
read on |
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7.4.09 SMOKE AND MIRRORS
Dear Editor The Labour government was once master of the sound bite and
the art of ‘smoke and mirrors’. We have, however, grown weary and wise
to their tricks. No longer do we trust the dubious statistics which they
put forward to justify the success of their programme.
read on
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7.4.09 EU WORKING
TIME DIRECTIVE Dear Editor I sometimes doubt the sanity of British
Labour MEPs in the European Parliament. Whilst the Government
desperately strives to curb the rise in unemployment and closure of
businesses, their Labour MEPs have spent their time campaigning to end
...
read on |
3.4.09
UPGRADE THE A303 A petition
to upgrade the A303 through Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire to a
continuous dual
carriageway has been placed on the Prime Minister’s website. I urge all
your readers who have
experienced the frustrations of negotiating A303 bottlenecks and sitting
in long, fume-filled traffic
queues to sign the petition
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Upgrade-A303/
read on
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2.4.09 EU DEFENCE
& SECURITY
Dear Editor Here we go again! A few years ago, we successfully fought an
EU proposal that our merchant ships should fly a Red Ensign flag
emblazoned with the EU circle of stars. Now it is proposed the EU flag
should be flown over British military bases and naval vessels and our
soldiers and sailors should wear an EU circle of stars arm badge. It is
yet another attempt to force an EU Federal State identity on Member
States...
read
on |
2.4.09
Recreational
anglers wriggle out of EU quotas plans
Plans to bring recreational anglers into the Common Fisheries
Policy (CFP) have been watered down significantly
by the European Parliament's fisheries committee in a vote this
afternoon.
Article 47 of the proposed regulation would have required
recreational fishermen to register their boats and
whatever they catch would be counted against the fisheries quota
for that country. Each country will also be
required to allocate what share of its quota for each fish species
will be available for commercial and recreational
fisheries use.
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31.3.09 PLIGHT OF
BRITISH RESIDENTS IN SOUTHERN SPAIN The Press and television have
recorded the scandalous demolition in Southern Spain of homes
purchased legally by British citizens. Unscrupulous developers,
aided and abetted by corrupt local politicians, have misused the
law to confiscate and demolish the properties of thousands who
sought retirement to a place in the sun.
read on |
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18.3.09
VAT REDUCTION
Dear Editor There is no doubt that our Government’s decision to
reduce VAT by 2.5 percent did little to stimulate the UK economy.
It placed an expensive administrative burden on business for
little return. It was a failure. EU Finance Ministers have,
however, agreed plans to introduce a 5 percent band of VAT which
will be targeted towards those services which are labour
intensive.
read on |
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25.2.09
EU EXTENDS E-MONEY SERVICES
The European Parliament has adopted a new Directive on electronic
payments. It will make it easier
for small businesses to offer e-money services and also facilitate
use by individuals of online
payments accounts, pre-paid mobile phone accounts, top up travel
cards and the like. This new
Directive will enable new secure and faster electronic money
services to be developed which will
foster the growth of market competition...
read on |
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24.2.09
BRISTOL IS UNSUCCESSFUL IN ITS BID TO BE EUROPE’S FIRST GREEN
CAPITAL
South West Conservative MEP, Giles Chichester, expressed his
disappointment that Bristol was
unsuccessful in its bid to be Europe’s First Green Capital. The
European Commission awarded the title
for 2010 to Stockholm and for 2011 to Hamburg...
read on
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23.2.09 Dear Editor
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has decided to
support an EU ban on the use of incandescent light bulbs. It now
falls to the British Government to decide when the ban should be
introduced. I feel it is too soon to make such a decision. I am
concerned that the technology used in the manufacture of
fluorescent energy saving light bulbs is still at an ..
read on |
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21.2.09 RUSSIAN THREAT TO OUR
GAS SUPPLY It seems uncanny how history is repeating itself in the
Ukraine. Three years ago we had a similar situation when Gazprom in
dispute with Naftagaz celebrated the New Year by cutting off Russian gas
supplies through the Ukraine. On the face of it each time it is a
business dispute about money but, of course, life isn't that simple.
read on |
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20.2.09
BRISTOL IN THE RUNNING TO BE THE FIRST EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL
The City of Bristol is one of 8 finalists for the title of
European Green Capital of 2010 and 2011. The
other finalists competing for this prestigious first award by the
European Commission are Amsterdam,
Freiberg, Hamburg, Munster, Oslo and Stockholm. The City of
Bristol remains the only UK finalist in
the running for the award. The competition attracted 35
applications from cities throughout the
European Union.
South West Conservative MEP, Giles Chichester, congratulated the
City of Bristol on its achievement
and wished it every success in its bid to be the First European
Green Capital. He was full of admiration
for its efforts in developing the Parks and Green Spaces Strategy
which had attracted the attention of the
competition judges. Bristol is blessed with 450 parks and green
spaces. Over 25 million visits are made
to them by 83% of the city’s population every year.
The award will be given to the City that
i. has a consistent record of achieving high environmental
standards
ii. is committed to ongoing environmental improvement and
sustainable development
iii. can act as a role model to promote best environmental
practice to other EU cities
Each applicant was primarily assessed on its desire and capability
to solve environmental problems so as
to improve the quality of life of its citizens.
ENDS |
17.2.09 MEP CHICHESTER OFFERS SUPPORT FOR
THE
ST. IVES PORTHMEOR STUDIOS RENOVATION PROJECT
During a recent visit to Porthmeor Studios and Cellars in St.
Ives, the South West Conservative MEP,
Giles Chichester, expressed considerable dismay at the fragile and
dilapidated condition of this Listed
Building which plays a vital role in the fishing and art
industries of Cornwall...
read on
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12.2.09 EU HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESS
Business Secretary Peter Mandelson has announced that the
Government will make available
£1 billion through a Small Business Finance Scheme to help
struggling firms. It seems that at last the
significant contribution of small business to the UK economy has
been recognised. Small and medium
sized businesses comprise 99% of all UK businesses, employ 60% of
our labour force and contribute 52%
of private sector GDP...
read on |
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MEP CHICHESTER IN ST. IVES TO CONTINUE PROTEST
AT PROPOSED EU CONTROLS OVER SEA ANGLING
FRIDAY 13 FEBRUARY – ST. IVES
South West Conservative MEP, Giles Chichester, will be visiting
St. Ives to meet with John Brooks,
who organises sea angling training courses for the Helston
Community College Sea Angling Group.
They will meet at 4.00 pm on Friday 13 February outside the St.
Ives School of Painting for discussions
and a photo opportunity.
MEP Chichester is meeting with John Brooks to discuss support for
the protests of the National
Federation of Sea Anglers (NFSA) and the Angling Trust against EU
proposals to control sea angling
through its inclusion in the Common Fisheries Policy. John Brooks
is an NFSA Member.
ENDS
Contact:
John Brooks Tel. 01209 314164 Mob. 07966 757322 |
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MEP CHICHESTER TO VISIT PORTHMEOR STUDIOS
FRIDAY 13 FEBRUARY – ST IVES
South West Conservative MEP, Giles Chichester, will be visiting
the Porthmeor Studios and Cellars in
St. Ives at 2.45 pm on Friday 13 February. He will be meeting with
Chris Hibbert, the Manager of the
Borlase Smart John Wells Trust, which owns and manages the
Porthmeor Studio and heads a project to
fund renovation of the building.
The Porthmeor Studios building was erected in the 19th Century
when it was originally used as a packing
and processing centre for the important local pilchard industry.
The Wells Trust project to renovate the
building is estimated to cost £3-7 million and they have so far
been allocated £1.2 million towards the
cost by the Arts Council’s Capital Building Programme. Currently,
the Trust is in discussions with the
EU Convergence and Fisheries Fund and other bodies to persuade
them to support this renovation
project.
The Porthmeor Studios and Cellars provide workspace for artists of
the St. Ives School of Painting and
local fishermen. The building is in a very fragile condition and
in desperate need of repairs.
ENDS
Contact:
Chris Hibbert, Manager Porthmeor Studios Tel. 01326 252203 Mob.
07922067281 |
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3 Feb 09
EU CONSUMERS HAVE A RIGHT TO FAIR ENERGY BILLS
Commission to investigate poor service in the energy supply sector
British consumers' energy bills could be lowered by a European
Commission investigation into potential
failures of market forces, said Conservative Energy Spokesman,
Giles Chichester MEP. The European Commission has published its
Consumer Markets scoreboard report ...
read on |
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21.1.09 SOUTH WEST MEP CHICHESTER WILL MEET WITH SEA ANGLING ASSOCIATION
OFFICIALS TO SUPPORT THEIR FIGHT AGAINST PROPOSED EU LEGISLATION
ON
RECREATIONAL FISHING QUOTAS
BUCKFAST, SOUTH DEVON ON 23 JANUARY
A proposed EU regulation that would bring recreational fishermen
under the direct control of the
Common Fisheries Policy will be fought tooth and nail by
Conservative MEPs.
Giles Chichester, South West Conservative MEP, will be meeting
with Richard Ferré, the
Director for Sea Angling of the newly formed Angling Trust and
Chairman of the National
Federation of Sea Anglers, to discuss the effects of this proposed
EU legislation on the South West
economy. The meeting will be held on Friday 23 January at 11.00 am
in the Abbey Inn
overlooking the River Dart at Buckfast, South Devon.
read on |
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13.1.09 100 WATT LIGHT
BULBS A friend on mine on a visit to his local shop was told to
stock up on 100 watt light bulbs because the EU had banned them.
This is not true.
read on |
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12 January 2009
UK CONTRIBUTION TO THE EU SET TO RISE thanks to Labour's 'buy now,
pay later' tactics
Labour's weak negotiating stance in 2005 over the 7-year EU budget
deal means South West taxpayers
are now going to face increased contributions to the EU budget
just as the recession begins to bite, South
West Conservative MEP Giles Chichester warned today.
read on |
11.1.09 EU REBATE
When Labour ministers gave away £7 billion of Britain's EU rebate
in 2005 they said it was a necessary price to pay for a commitment
to reform the Common Agricultural Policy in 2008.
read on |
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8 January 2009
THE EUROPEAN SMALL BUSINESS ACT
This Labour Government seems unable to grasp the significant
contribution small business makes
to our economy. Perhaps it’s because even Peter Mandelson, the new
Labour spin doctor, can’t overcome the fact that so few of them
have any practical experience of the sector.
read on ... |
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8th January 2009
UK SMALL BUSINESS TO BENEFIT FROM £650m LOANS
BY THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed three new generation
EIB loans for small and medium
sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK for a total of GBP 650 million
(EUR 720 million).
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