letter to the editor from Richard Corbett MEP

26 October 2007

Yorkshire Evening Post

Dear Editor,

While Phil McShane (23rd October) showed a good understanding of how the EU institutions work (ie that European legislation is not decided by the European Commission, but by government ministers and elected MEPs), we, as Labour MEPs, were a little bemused to be called spineless for the way we voted on some of the directives Gerald Jarret mentioned in his original letter (18th October).

The EU's Bus and Coach Directive 2001/85, among other things, sought to ensure buses and coaches across Europe are accessible to people with reduced mobility. While the Routemaster bus was iconic its outdated design meant it was impossible to access for anyone using a wheelchair. We were proud to vote in favour of placing images on cigarette packets as a discouragement to smokers. Home Infomation Packs are actually a government initiative but do include an energy performance certificate, which was an EU proposal and was supported by us because it is part of a necessary drive to improve the energy effiency of our buildings. And of course we support the right of citizens to take up permanent residence in other EU countries - just ask the million or so Brits living in France and Spain.

Yorkshire and the Humber elected two Labour MEPs in the 2004 European elections and we share responsibility for individual casework issues raised with us on a geographical basis.

There are 5million people in Yorkshire and the Humber and we do our best to keep in contact with as many people as possible! Phil McShane and other Yorkshire Evening Post readers can keep up to date with the work we do and the decisions we take by signing up to our respective newsletters and also logging on to our regularly updated websites at www.richardcorbett.org.uk and www.lindamcavanmep.org.uk . We look forward to hearing from you!

Yours,

Richard Corbett & Linda McAvan

Labour MEPs for Yorkshire & Humber