South East Issues »

Each year I am able to sponsor 100 constituents on subsidised group visits of 30 persons or more. In December 2009, 44 constituents from across the South-East visited me in the European Parliament at Brussels.

During the first evening in Brussels visitors were able to visit the Grande Place area and the Christmas market.

The second morning saw the visit to the European Parliament itself, a briefing from the visits unit, followed by a discussion with me and a number of my fellow MEPs (pictured). We discussed in particular the talks taking place that week in Copenhagen to reduce climate change. Some of the delegates then went on that afternoon to an evidently very interesting talk and discussion given by a speaker from the European Commission about the history of the European Union.

Feedback indicates that people found the visit both educational and enjoyable:

“ an excellently organised and most interesting and enjoyable trip” Paul and Ann from Brighton

“History lecture was particularly good (The Commission)” Fran and Derek from Waterlooville

“ a very useful and educational experience to be able to visit the parliament and the commission. It was good to be able to hear from you, your colleagues and staff as well as the officials” Brian and Tomiko from Reading

A visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg will be advertised later this year. Please let me know if you are interested in coming on a future sponsored visit on email southeast {at} peterskinnermep(.)eu or ring me on 01322 270345.

South East Issues »

Associated British Ports (ABP), a major employer across the South East, received good news recently when the Department of Transport (DoT) said that a rival ports operator in Liverpool could not upgrade its facilities to match those in Southampton.

The news means that the Port of Southampton (right) remains one of just a handful of ports in the UK capable of handling ‘turnaround calls’, where a cruise ship starts or finishes.

ABP approached me to help them lobby against the Liverpool upgrade. I found their argument compelling: that the development of ‘turnaround’ facilities at the Liverpool port should not occur before £21 million of public funds – almost half of which came from the European Union – used to build the Liverpool port in 2007 were repaid.

I contacted the European Commission, DoT and my colleague and Transport Minister Paul Clark to explain the situation and voice my view that a distortion of competition through public funds should not be allowed.

The DoT agreed, ruling in December 2009 that an upgrade of the Liverpool port would be unfair. This is really good news for ABP and Southampton. It means that visitors from around the UK and the world will continue to embark on their fabulous holidays from the city (after having spent a bit of money in its many wonderful hotels and restaurants of course!).