NEWS FROM GLENIS WILLMOTT

Action on climate change - cutting emissions                                   

Emissions from aviation are increasing fast, more than in any other sector. This is undermining our progress in cutting greenhouse gases and cannot be allowed to continue. A return flight from London to New York generates roughly the same level of emissions as the average person does by heating their home for a whole year. There is an environmental cost to air travel. It is up to us to do something about that.

The Environment Committee is working on proposals to bring air transport into the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme.  This means that, like the industries which are already part of the scheme, airlines will be given an allowance of emissions. There is an incentive to use less than their allowance because they can sell what’s left.

I want to see the proposed directive covering emissions from flights within the EU and flights to and from EU airports by 2010. This legislation is part of a comprehensive approach to addressing aviation emissions, which also includes more research into greener technologies and improvements in air traffic management.

On emissions from cars, the Commission is currently preparing proposals on CO2 emissions per kilometre travelled and this is a chance for the European Parliament to give its input into the drafting.  The Environment Committee has voted to strengthen the targets proposed.

I believe that the car industry has had a long time to clean up its act and, while progress has been made, it has not been sufficient. The time has come for strict mandatory targets to be put in place as soon as possible.  We have also backed warnings similar to those used on cigarette packets to occupy a significant proportion of the space devoted to promotion of new cars.

Unfortunately these views are not shared by some in the Tory Party, despite their attempts to polish up their green credentials. For example, East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer has described those of us trying to reduce emissions as ‘green zealots’ who want to punish motorists. 

More information

How you can help by smarter driving – the Government’s Act on CO2 site

Environment Committee report on emissions from cars

UN report on Climate Change

Tackling young smokers

The Labour Government has recently raised the age at which young people can buy cigarettes and tobacco from 16 to 18. I hope this will stop more youngsters getting hooked on smoking.

As part of my work on ‘a smoke free Europe’ I am also calling for restrictions aimed specifically at young people. 

The British Medical Association has said that most smokers begin in adolescence, with evidence suggesting that the younger someone starts smoking, the less likely they are to give up. Figures released last year showed that 15% of 15 year olds smoke regularly.

Cigarette machines are often used by teens because there are no age checks in place. We have to stop young people having access to these machines. We should also ban cigarettes from point of sale stands in shops. It is also vital that young people can get hold of affordable products to help them kick the habit.

The Remploy campaign - update

I have been supporting staff at Remploy factories in the East Midlands in their fight against planned closures.  I am delighted that Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain has promised that no factory closures will take place without the agreement of government ministers.  He has also announced a subsidy of £555 million over 5 years to secure Remploy’s future.

There will be no redundancies for Remploy’s disabled workers. Remploy workers and their unions have saved the factories in the face of an inept and unfeeling management.

Anti-women Tories

The Tories have launched a campaign in favour of equal pay with the slogan – “Women, like men only cheaper.”  Nice to see the Tories new found concern for women.

Are these the same Tories who, in Europe, voted against or abstained on calls to criminalize rape within marriage across the EU?  Or the same Tories who voted against or abstained on the Daphne programme to combat violence against women?  Or the same Tories who have only ONE woman MEP – and only 16 in the House of Commons?

Contact Glenis
 

Glenis Willmott MEP
Harold Wilson House
23 Barratt Lane
Attenborough
Nottingham  NG9 6AD

Tel. 0115 922 9717
Fax. 0115 922 4439

office@gleniswillmott.org.uk

Glenis’s team

Paddy Casswell: Political Manager
Chris Poles: Brussels Researcher
Alex Phillips: Brussels stagiaire (intern)
Ted Willmott: Personal Assistant
Maggie Hudson: Constituency Assistant
Kelly Tomlinson: Secretary
Elizabeth Udall: Media Officer