European Union to scrap current fishing quota rules

It’s great news that European fisheries ministers in Brussels have finally agreed that the new Common Fisheries Policy must be radically decentralised.
This would give more power to member states and to the fishing industry. It is quite clear to me that the existing system has failed the industry.

Hopefully the new Common Fisheries Policy will mean that less fish are needlessly discarded and more people can be attracted into the industry.

As a Conservative I am committed to a profitable and sustainable fish industry in Newlyn. It is clear that fishermen must have more power if this is to be achieved.
The current Common Fisheries Policy has been criticised both by scientists concerned with dwindling fish stocks, and by fishermen, who say it is threatening their livelihoods.

Targeting 'discards'

The European Commission itself admits the situation created by overfishing is "serious" - and yet in the last decade thousands of trawlermen across Europe have been forced to give up, many blame European regulations for driving them out of business.

EU member states are now being asked for their input on a new fisheries policy - one which officials promise will be radically different from the existing one.
A central aim is to minimise so-called "discarding" - throwing fish back to sea, dead or alive, because quotas have already been reached. For every kilogram of cod that was taken back to port from the North Sea in 2007 another kilogram was thrown back - mostly dead, according to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. It is essential that the fishing industry has a far greater input into creating the new policy and making it work in the long-term. Whatever is eventually agreed, the new Common Fisheries Policy must end the "discards" procedure; it must encourage fishermen to only target the fish they want and provide scientists with precise data on which to base their advice on stock numbers.

In the past year the Fishing Industry in Newlyn has been visited by some high profile Conservative MPs. David Cameron, Conservative Party Leader, met with representatives of the industry last summer to discuss the problem of discard and high fuel costs. In April this year Richard Benyon MP, Shadow Minister for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, joined Derek Thomas to discuss with the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, possible solutions to the problem of the discard problem. During his visit Richard Benyon assured Paul Trebilcock, Chief Executive, that the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation would be included in drawing up a new agreement, should the Conservatives form the next government.

The new European Common Fisheries Policy is due to be completed by 2012 and whilst Fishermen broadly welcome the review many fear it could be too late. Let’s hope this time it takes into account the views of the fishermen and conservation in a mature way.

Monthly report back

I thought I’d try to give you a monthly impression of the work I undertake as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, meeting local people and hearing about their concerns.

I was honoured to attend the local Conservat-ive Party's Annual President's Dinner at the home of Sir John and Lady Nott (above). Sir John was of course our former Member of Parliament and the Defence Secretary during the Falklands crisis in 1981. The evening was very enjoyable and lively, with up to 70 people attending and a good time was had by all.



I welcomed Jim Paice MP, Shadow Minister for
the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs hear the
concerns of local farmers and the agricultural community. Together we visited Wills’ Green Grocer in Helston (picture above) which is still family run and approaching its’ 70th year as an independent small business. We also met with farmers on the Lizard and they were very keen to raise with Jim the promise of the local badger cull in areas where TB is found in cattle. We also discussed Conservative plans to help farmers, and about the help offered to farmers regarding stabilising the cost of fuel and a programme of deregulation. Jim took all our concerns on board and promised to work hard in Westminster to provide help for farmers in West Cornwall.

Later in the month I welcomed a visitor from just over the water; the Conservative MP for South West Devon; Gary Streeter. Gary and I travelled to Helston to meet parents who have disabled children and as a direct outcome of that meeting a Parent/Carers group in Helston is being established. Afterwards, Gary was kind enough to speak at a large gathering in Marazion Community Centre on the subject of faith and politics, which was a very interesting discussion.

On Saturday 1st November my family and I met farmers at the annual ploughing match at Rosevidney, St Erth, and in the evening we attended the Annual Dinner of the Western Agricultural Association at the Queens Hotel, Penzance.

I was delighted to attend the St Just Feast Civic Parade and Church Service with Cllr Bill East on Sunday 2nd November. On Monday 3rd my family and I returned to St Just for the meet of the Western Hunt and the St Just Feast Celebrations.

On Remembrance Sunday I was honoured to attend the Remembrance Day Parade in Penzance and Church Service at Chapel Street. This is always a busy and emotionally powerful occasion as we join tigether to remember those brave servicemen and women who gave their lives for the sake of the United Kingdom. I laid a wreath on behalf of the St. Ives Constituency Conservative Association.

On Monday 10th November the Lizard Conservatives invited me to a reception with pasties and wine at the Wheel Inn in Cury Cross Lanes, where I was asked to speak about rural issues with local members. The event was very well attended and I know that this is only the first of many activities planned for people living on the Lizard.

On November 13th Mark Prisk MP, the Shadow Minister for Cornwall, came to West Cornwall. I arranged a visit to Helston Medical Centre and St. Keverne and Marazion Surgeries. This fact-finding tour demonstrated the commitment of the Conservative Party to surgeries to retain their right to dispense prescriptions, and again highlighted the sustained attack on rural life by the Labour Government. Mark pledged to make representations in the House of Commons on behalf of West Cornwall.

We also visited fishermen in Newlyn to discuss the problems faced by shipping and fishermen over the proposed location of a wave hub off the north coast of Cornwall. Mark concluded his visit by attending a reception for West Penwith farmers at our home.

On Friday 14th November I attended a meeting of the West Cornwall Healthwatch, of which I am a member, and on Saturday 15th I went to Helston for the opening of a Fair-trade Christmas gift shop and then onto Leedstown for the 50th Anniversary of the village hall. I lived in Leedstown for a short time when I was a teenager.

Those of us in West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have a great many needs which are simply not addressed by our current MP and Lib Dem run County Council. I’ve been very busy in the last few months to do what I can to help, but there is still so much to do and this is a challenge I relish!

Being the Conservative candidate is busy and exhilarating, and you can be sure that I will continue to work to raise concerns on behalf of those who have been forgotten by the powerful at County Hall and at Westminster!

Beyond my political duties I’ve had the great privilege of being the guest speaker at the Darby & Joan Club in Helston and the Evergreen Club in Mullion. I’ve been interviewed at an evening service at Helston Baptist Church, and I’ve led school assemblies twice at Bolitho School in Penzance.

Pledge to oppose surgery cuts

Today Mark Prisk MP, the Shadow Minister for Cornwall and I pledged to give our full support to save dispensaries in GP’s surgeries throughout West Cornwall.

Mark and I visited three dispensing surgeries today and we both pledged to fight Government proposals to cut local dispensing surgeries. A proposal in the "Pharmacy in England; Building on Strengths—Delivering the Future" White Paper issued by the Department for Health, could result in many rural practices having to stop dispensing medicines to their patients.

We were both fortunate to hear the concerns of local patients and practitioners at St. Keverne Surgery, Helston Medical Centre and Marazion Surgery (photo above with Practice Manager Jackie Brown and Dr. Walden). We witnessed the depth of local feeling throughout West Cornwall and pledged to campaign to save the dispensaries with local patients. The campaign has so far led to hundreds of local residents writing letters of objection to the Government regarding the possible loss of rural dispensing surgeries.

Mark said that the Conservatives favour keeping the current arrangements within surgeries: “I cannot stress enough the importance of services such as dispensing surgeries and post offices in small rural communities. The Conservatives oppose any change in the provision of dispensaries in local GP’s surgeries.”

We were both appalled that under Government proposals, up to 80,000 of the 140,500 patients in Cornwall who have their medicines directly dispensed by their GP’s surgery could lose this choice. Surgeries would also lose the valuable source of revenue provided by their dispensing capability, which could adversely contribute to the future viability of the surgery.

Mark and I were not able to visit all of the dispensing surgeries that could be affected by the Government’s proposals. However, these surgeries alone dispense to almost 9,000 patients; to lose their dispensing service is unacceptable and unnecessary, particularly when you consider that many of these patients are older of vulnerable people. I invited Mark today to witness our concerns first hand and to make our views clear back at Westminster. The Government White Paper provides limited options, including the status quo. This is the only option that would protect rural dispensing surgeries and ensure patients retain choice when collecting their prescription.

Mark assured me that he will return to Westminster to make representations to the Government on behalf of all of us in West Cornwall.

Shadow Minister pledges to find a solution for West Cornwall fishermen

Mark and I went on to meet representatives of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation in Newlyn to discuss their concerns over the location of the proposed wave hub, off the coast north of Cornwall. I was delighted that Mark, as Shadow Minister for Cornwall, pledged to investigate concerns regarding the location for a proposed wave hub on Thursday.

It is clear that local fishermen have genuine concerns about the location of the wave hub. It appears that conditions at sea may be too severe for the proposed location. Furthermore, this site sits in prime fishing waters and amidst shipping traffic. There may be a more suitable location for the hub but to date those that have raised concerns, including the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, have received an unsatisfactory response from the Government. Mark has agreed to investigate the delay and seek a satisfactory solution. Whilst we want to exploit natural and sustainable energy resources, it seems a shame to spend millions of pounds on a wave hub that may fail simply due to its location.