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In this issue: Hello to the Strasbourg forty five | No to GMO | No laughing matter | Tackling health issues | Calling time on timescale scams | Breaking new ground in countryside recruitment | Funding success across the region | Four legged friend Parliament victory | Black squirell brings low income help
For many the highlight of the visit was meeting Nobel Peace Prize winner, John Hume, at the final evening's dinner in a Strasbourg restaurant. I also introduced the group to Labour group leader, Phillip Whitehead and was able to engage Glennis Kinnock to give them a tour of the parliament building. The 45 saw their MEP – and others – in action when they watched the very lively debate on GM foods. One comment was that it is very illuminating to see news headlines being made!  I
was delighted to welcome and meet members from right across the region.
The party were safely delivered by Dereham Coaches, who picked up
groups from Norwich, Ipswich, Chelmsford and
Thurrock, before crossing the channel and driving across France.I arrange for my constituents to visit the parliament on a regular basis, so keep an eye out for the next invitation. Top At the end of the day, though, the parliament agreed new rules that require any foods with more than 1% genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to be labelled as such. However any products containing traces of less than 1% do not need to be labelled. This is something that local people really care very strongly about and I have received many letters from my constituents saying that these rules just won’t do. People want, and have a right, to know exactly what they are eating, regardless of the arguments for or against genetically modified products. More than half the food products currently on sale in the UK which do contain GMOs will not have a label which says this. The very least we need is a further category for GM free food, which would enable consumers to make clear choices when they go shopping in their local supermarket. But we also need a system which ensures people can check whether foods contain products from animals that have been fed on GM products. My constituents are saying this is something they want – for themselves, their children and their grandchildren. I and other Labour colleagues will not stop until we have achieved this. Top Top I joined colleagues to launch a ‘Working on Stress’ campaign, designed to encourage employers to tackle the root causes of stress, such as better defined roles at work and improved communications. The drive will culminate in a conference focusing on the issue in October. The campaign aims to achieve more-positive attitudes towards stress among staff and employers by focusing on its main causes. The message is that better defined roles at work, greater control for individuals and better communication would all help improve job satisfaction and therefore the quality of work. Top Last month I backed a resolution calling on the EU to crack down on rogue operators and tighten-up inadequate legislation. The problem with current rules is their definition of a timeshare is too narrow, leaving lots of loopholes. We need to look at enforcing the law better and consumers need better information to stop them falling for the scams. Top Thousands of young people attended the two day show, which included hands on displays about career opportunities as well as information about countryside activities in general. Top Top  theoughout
my career as an MEP I have campaigned long and hard to end the the
senseless and cruel practice of testing cosmetics on animals. My efforts
came to fruition when the EU agreed a complete ban on the sale of
any products including ingredients tested in this way. This
means unscrupulous manufacturers can no longer get round the loophole
of importing animal tested products from countries outside the EU.
I was delighted to join Body Shop customers at Bedford and Cambridge, and (four legged) clients of Harlow’s RSPCA clinic to celebrate the news. Top Top In this issue Hello to the Strasbourg forty five | No to GMO | No laughing matter | Tackling health issues | Calling time on timescale scams | Breaking new ground in countryside recruitment | Funding success across the region | Four legged friend Parliament victory | Black squirell brings low income help
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