An MEP's Casework
Westminster MPs and MEPs have very different kinds of casework. Chris gets casework from MPs around the region, from local councillors and political activists, directly from constituents and sometimes from people further afield.
Being a regional MEP is a different job to being a constituency
MP. As one of the higher profile MEPs Chris gets more casework than average and so casework from constituents is given a higher priority than casework from outside the North West.
On average, Chris gets about 7,000
letters and e-mails every month, the vast majority coming in the
latter form. This number is on a steady upward climb as more and more people contact us. People get a reply as soon as possible. Our average response
time varies according to Chris's workload and the time of year.
Sometimes, we receive a large number of emails or letters generated by a website or pressure group. Generally we will research these issues and get back with a consistent reply to everyone. Other emails concern individual problems.
Chris gets contacted about issues arising from visits to continental
Europe, or about what the EU does, or about an article people have
read in a newspaper. Chris also receives a large number of questions about Euromyths such as the EU putting Kent into France (it hasn't) or that the EU is trying to ban smoking (it hasn't).
The following details may give you an idea of this particular MEP's
casework. If you have any questions about his work in the European
parliament please get in touch.
Sorting out the Mailbag
Chris is contacted by people about a huge range of issues including:
1. Testing on Primates
Issues regarding animal welfare always pack the mailbag of MPs and MEPs. Last year Liberal Democrats campaigned to introduce a permanent ban on experiments on mankind’s closest relatives at EU level.
Techniques such as computer modelling and use of tissue and cell culture are in some cases proving to be more efficient and reliable than animal experiments. Chris does not oppose the principle that laboratory animals may be used in tests vital for medical research, but every effort must be made to stimulate development of alternative methods.
Other than in the most exceptional cases Chris believes we should prohibit the use of apes, which are mankind’s closest relatives and experience many of the same emotions and pain responses as ourselves.
2. General Queries regarding the EU
This is one of the biggest sections of the mailbag and generally speaking covers the questions Chris receives regarding the activities of EU institutions. This can range from questions about legislative proposals coming to the Parliament, EU policy in a wide range of subject areas, or specific queries on euromyths reported in the media.
Specific examples include:
- EU funding programmes
- Lobbying on draft EU laws, such as the plant protection products directive, the working time directive or legislation on Biofuels and alternative sources of energy.
- Queries regarding the benefits of EU membership. On a purely financial basis, it has been estimated that EU membership is worth about £300 per head per year to the UK economy as a whole, to say nothing of stronger legislation in cross border areas like the environment.
- Euromyths, such as Brussels wanting to ban family pets from B&Bs, or Scottish Mince; the EU closing Post offices, and a number of e-mails and letters following a story printed in one popular red-top tabloid suggesting that the EU was trying to “wipe Britain off the map” and replace it with regional zones.
3. ‘Amber Alert’ emergency EU co-operation for abducted children
Following the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine in Portugal in 2006, Kate & Gerry McCann visited the European Parliament in April last year and described how the US style ‘Amber Alert’ system had helped recover 4,000 missing children since being set up in 1996.
MEPs adopted a written declaration supporting proposals for a Europe-wide system that would emulate the US style ‘Amber Alert’ which helped recover 80% of missing children within 72 hours of their reported disappearance.
The proposed system would immediately supply to relevant news media, border authorities, customer and law enforcement agencies details of the missing child with a photograph if available; with information relevant to the disappearance and/or the suspected abductor(s); and a telephone number for the receipt of critical information.
The declaration was adopted by MEPs last year with an instruction to forward to the European Commission and EU Ministers for concrete legislative proposals. You can see the list of MEPs that supported the declaration by clicking here.
4. Environment queries
This covers correspondence relating to environmental issues, related to Chris’s legislative work in the European Parliament but also more generally.
In the past this has included questions about incineration rates, or national provision for recycling, but also questions regarding pollution or plastic bag bans, or about the effect that population has on our environment.
Some other examples:
- The environmental effect of junk mail
- Recycling for businesses
- Environmental impact of phone mast installations
- General climate change queries
- Carbon Capture and Storage
- Renewable energy & Biofuels
5. Animal welfare
This is often found in specific campaigns organised by specific groups, or on issues such as bullfighting in Europe or the trade in seals’ fur, but we have also received correspondence on issues such as
- Badger Culling
- EU legislation on lab animals
- Transportation of horses
- Foie Gras
- Battery hens
- Orang-Utans in Borneo
6. EU Law
Chris is regularly contacted with queries which seek clarification on EU law. This can be in any policy area and we will do our best to provide information, or refer the query to the European Commission’s SOLVIT service, or the Citizens Signpost service, which can be used to address individuals’ enquiries regarding the application of EU law.
Issues from the 2007/08 mailbag include:
- Premier League TV rights
- Brazilian Beef ban
- “Beer ties” between landlords and pub managers
- Side guards on HGVs
- Property Insurance in Cyprus or France
- Opening UK bank accounts when based elsewhere in EU
- Spearfishing facing a potential ban
7. Israel and Palestine
Due to Chris’s work for the Palestinian cause he receives a large number of emails about Israel and Palestine.
This is an incredibly emotive issue for many people.
8. Cross-Border Problems and Queries
This involves issues that people might have encountered whilst visiting or living in another EU country. It can involve problems encountered when purchasing property elsewhere in the EU, or in the differences with relation to the recognition of the UK’s civil partnership in other EU countries which can have profound effect for couples’ rights when living on other countries.
9. MEP Expenses
In February 2008 Chris was contacted by the Brussels correspondent for the Daily Telegraph about a secret report prepared by the European Parliament’s auditors on the payments made from MEPs’ staff allowances.
Chris had heard nothing about it, but made arrangements to view the report.
Although confidential, Chris reported the contents to the EU fraud watchdog, OLAF. The report named no individuals, it creates no problems with confidentiality, it deals with very large sums of public money, the taxpayers have a right to know that this is being handled responsibly, and the Parliament should practice what it preaches about the principles of openness and transparency.
Chris received a considerable number of supportive e-mails and letters, from all over Europe in the days following.
To sign Chris’s petition on MEPs expenses please visit the homepage.
Details of Chris’s pay and expenses are available here.
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