Lorry Driver Hours

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:21:26

Sir, The European rules to bring working hours of self-employed lorry drivers in to line with safety limits for drivers working for transport companies will be challenged today in the European Parliament (16 June 2010). Driving – especially whilst tired – is one of the most dangerous work related activities that people do each day. Research into the field of driver fatigue led to new European rules in 2005 limiting working hours in road transport to a maximum of 60 in any one week. Everyone is familiar with the phrase ‘tiredness kills’, yet...

Food Traffic Lights

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:18:24

Sir, Do we really know what’s in our food? Labour’s Scottish Euro-MPs are about to vote on whether shoppers have a right to clear and understandable information about the food we buy. But food manufacturers have been lobbying hard to stop the use of ‘traffic light labels’, which use green, amber and red markings to show how much salt, fat and sugar is contained in processed foods like ready meals. The British Heart Foundation and Which? both back the labels, and I’ve received many letters from people in Scotland asking me to support them. I for one am very happy...

Child Trust Fund Cuts

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:16:18

Sir, The Coalition’s decision to scrap Child Trust Fund payments ‘for all’, irrespective of income, is both alarming and damaging to the lives of millions of parents and children. Labour’s Child Trust Fund was the world’s first universal savings policy for children. It was part of Labour’s major drive to tackle child poverty and social exclusion. We all know the importance of saving for major events – such as our children going off to University or for their first home. A growing trust fund, after nearly two decades of interest, would have been a major boost...

Working Time Directive

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:14:17

Sir, It is rather odd that the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), has come out against the Working Time Directive – a basic piece of European wide health and safety legislation. Contrary to the CIPD’s stance, there is a clear relationship between continually working long hours and ill health. A recent study of 6,000 British civil servants in the European Heart Journal has concluded that long hours and overtime are “related to increased risk of incident CHD [coronary heart disease] independently of conventional risk factors”. Moreover as Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, stated...

Child Trust Funds

Tue, 25 May 2010 03:08:48

Work Flaw

Tue, 25 May 2010 02:57:34

Tory Hypocrisy

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:41:00

Sir, On the 28 February 2010 David Cameron made a speech to Parliament claiming...

Pre-mixed Caffeinated Alcohol

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:31:29

Sir, The recent surge in the sale of Buckfast throughout the UK, should not detract attention from the fact that there are clear health risks associated with caffeinated alcohol (your report, 11 March). If you combine high levels of caffeine and alcohol into a pre-mixed drink, it is no surprise that the end result is a potent and dangerous cocktail. As Dr Steven Alexander stated, caffeinated alcoholic drinks are clearly dangerous and it is concerning that such drinks are growing in popularity in parts of England. The comments made in the European Parliament on Monday by a...

Ban the Sale of the Sex Trade

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Sir, It is ironic that the Association for the Defence of Sex Workers has challenged mayor Ritt Bjerregaard for so-called discriminatory measures (your report, 11 December). The sexual exploitation and trafficking of women is a global problem. Many men who purchase sex do so without considering that many prostitutes come from backgrounds scarred by child abuse, violence and poverty. I urge the European Commission to follow the example of Sweden, Norway and Iceland and introduce legislation to address the growth of prostitution and its associated risks. Since the Swedish government criminalised the purchase of sexual services, 80 per cent of the public in Sweden now consider prostitution "unacceptable". In addition, there are...

EU Integration

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Sir, The European Union is the most successful peace process the world has ever known. As Václav Havel recently said, it is better to have our fights in the conference hall rather than the battlefield. However, joining the EU is not a one-way street. Although I support further enlargement of the EU, it cannot be guaranteed that all Western Balkan nations will be eligible to join the EU by 2014. Expansion cannot continue ‘without interruption’, as the Montenegrin Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic, recently stated. As set out in 1993, at the Copenhagen European Council, every candidate state must fulfil a strict set of economic and political conditions. This...

Toy Safety

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Sir, The EU toy safety requirements are amongst the most stringent in the world. Toy safety is a key priority for the EU. Thanks to strict EU safety laws, thousands of potentially hazardous items will never reach our shelves this Christmas. It is vital that you always check to make sure that any toy, or manufactured product, has the CE marking. This mark is a commitment from the manufacturer that the market product has met all rigorous EU safety standards and contains no hazardous materials or chemicals. If you spot any safety issue with a toy, you must inform the manufacturer and if you get in touch with my office,...

SNP's Farical Position on Europe

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Sir, It is absolutely vital that the people of Scotland are made aware that an independent Scotland would not automatically be granted full membership of the EU. The Scottish Government’s White Paper has unrealistically described how influential an independent Scotland in Europe would be. Scotland would, however, need to negotiate its accession to the EU, which would not be ‘seamless’ as Jim Mather once naively stated. Furthermore, Mr Salmond has said on numerous occasions that Scotland would retain the pound, despite the clear fact that all new member states of the EU must adopt the Euro. Britain’s membership of the EU provides real benefits to Scotland. Thousands upon thousands of jobs throughout Scotland...

Independence Poll

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Sir, The latest YouGov poll (your report, 25th November) quite simply shows the irrelevance of the SNP’s National Conversation. I sincerely hope that the SNP take stock of what the people of Scotland are saying and get on with the job that they have been elected to do. It is absolutely inexplicable that Mr. Salmond even dreamed of axing the Glasgow airport rail link, considering that they have been throwing millions of pounds into a separation campaign. They have even wasted taxpayers’ money coming out to Brussels to showcase the fantasy of an independent Scotland to political figures that have no jurisdiction in the matter. It is time for the...

Ludicrous Charges

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Sir, I am writing with respect to the draconian measures of HBOS, and to warn all Press readers of the dangers and implications of their overdraft charges. It is absolutely ludicrous of HBOS to impose a charge on their customers of a flat £1 fee for every day they are in their arranged overdraft of up to £2,500. I am outraged that a high street bank have adopted such a strategy, particularly in the run up to Christmas. The charges will inevitably compound existing levels of individual debt, to the point where many people will be unable to pay of what they owe the banks. Moreover, HBO's decision is hardly...

Cross Border Payments

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Sir, On the 1 November 2009 the EU Payment Services Regulation will come into force. This means that all electronic payments made throughout the EU will be treated the same as 'domestic' payments, and the rules will apply to all e-payments made in any EU currency. The introudction of these rules marks a revolution in cross border payments. Until now the provision of payment services across Europe has been bedevilled by diverging and complex legal rules in the 27 different member states. By having one set of rules, across the 27 member states, makes cross border payments easier for individuals and businesses to trade in the European market. It...

Tory Intolerance

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Sir, It is appalling that David Cameron and his party have deemed it appropriate to parade two right wing extremists at their party conference in Manchester. Going by their choice in allies, it goes to show you that the Tories are the same old party - a party that has little respect for modern Britain and our rich, diverse societies. How can the Tories claim to be a modern, dynamic party when they lend legitimacy to people who are anything but socially progressive. The principles of equal rights and non-discrimination are the cornerstones of our rights and values. Mr Cameron has sent out a clear message that the Tories are still...

SNP... Pro-Europeans?

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Sir, It is rather hypocritical of Alyn Smith MEP to declare that Mr. Cameron holds a ‘strange’ position on Europe, when the SNP’s stance is itself questionable. The SNP are quick to refer to themselves as ‘passionate Europeans’. How can the SNP have the audacity to refer to themselves as ‘pro-European’ when they oppose the Lisbon Treaty? The SNP have more in common with the Tories than they realise, and if they got their way they would leave Scotland isolated in Europe. The Lisbon Treaty, if ratified, will extend the power of the European Parliament, and for the first time give national Parliaments a say in drafting European...

David Cameron

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Printed in the Scotsman - 8th October 2009 Sir, It is appalling that David Cameron and his party have deemed it appropriate to parade two right-wing extremists at their conference in Manchester. Going by Mr Cameron’s choice in allies, it goes to show you that they are the same old Tories – a party that has little respect for modern Britain and our rich, diverse societies. How can the Tories claim to be a modern, dynamic Party when they lend legitimacy to people whose views are anything but socially progressive? The principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination are the cornerstones of our rights and values. It is vital that our...

Victory for People Power

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Sir, I write in response to your report ‘European law spells end for traditional Scottish sporran’. The European Parliament’s decision to adopt a ban on the trade in seal products is a victory for people power and has come after a long and hard fought campaign by animal rights activists all across the globe. The vast majority of people in Scotland and across Europe are absolutely horrified by the barbaric slaughtering practices exercised by seal clubbers in commercial hunts. Too often have we seen repellent images of baby seals being clubbed to death for their fur. Opinion polling shows strong majorities across European Member States back a ban, between 70% and over...

The Importance of the EuroParl

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 12:00:00

Letter to the Scotsman Sir, Your correspondent Mary Rolls incorrectly asserts that "of course the European Parliament does not make the laws that now control practically every aspect of our lives" and that "the European Parliament may, though rarely does, amend the commission's decisions, directives and regulations but only after a complicated process of horse-trading with the commission and the council, advised by COREPER (Committee of Permanent Representatives of EU member states), a powerful but little-known body composed of mandarins from 27 countries." This is simply untrue. Every revision of the Treaties has seen an increase in the power of the European Parliament in relation to the other institutions. Today the European Parliament is firmly...