Conservatives win through for UK Offshore Oil and Gas industry
Posted,5/21/2013 1:00:00 PM
British MEPs today declared victory in their long-running battle over offshore oil safety rules.
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Welcome for serious action on petrol-price allegations
Posted,5/15/2013 11:00:00 AM
Conservative MEP Vicky Ford, who has consistently pushed for EU action against petrol price-fixing, today welcomed the launch of a major investigation into manipulation of the oil and petrol market. Working in co-operation with Harlow MP Robert Halfon, Mrs. Ford has tabled a series of parliamentary questions in Brussels urging the European Commission to probe serious allegations of price-manipulation levelled against major oil companies. Yesterday the Commission announced a wide-ranging investigation as officials raided the offices of leading firms including Shell and BP. Mrs. Ford, MEP for the East of England and Conservative spokesman on Industry, Research and Energy, said: "We have been working together to give the Commission a serious push on this issue. "I persistently questioned them and urged them to sit up and take notice of this important issue. It is very pleasing that now they have. "Sometimes when you ask questions of the EU you feel as though they disappear into a black hole, but it looks as though this time the right people have listened. "I hope the investigation now underway will be as thorough and wide-reaching as it needs to be to root out any malpractice and reassure consumers that in future they will not be cheated. "Motorists need be in the driving seat - not taken for a ride."
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Progress must not be halted by the economic crisis
Posted,3/6/2013 4:00:00 PM
The economic crisis should notaffect gender equality issues or be used as an excuse for inaction, ConservativeMEP Vicky Ford told a forum in the European Parliament today.
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EU banks agreement is a curate’s egg: very good in parts
Posted,2/28/2013 10:00:00 AM
Last night’s agreement on the Capital Requirements Directive secured the main safeguards for the real economy and is overall a good deal for almost everyone in the UK, despite the caps on a few bankers’ bonuses, Vicky Ford MEP, one of the parliament’s lead negotiators from the European Conservatives and Reformists group, said this morning.Mrs Ford has secured the UK’s main negotiating priority, which is to deliver stronger global banking standards in capital, liquidity and leverage. As the deal does allow many exemptions for different types of European banks it was important that countries could also go further than the EU’s minimum standards for capital requirements.
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Erosion of North Sea safety standards thwarted
Posted,2/21/2013 4:00:00 PM
Conservative MEPs have successfully headed off EU proposals on oil and gas safety which they feared would mean poorer standards in the North Sea and unnecessary added cost.
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