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WIND UP THE DEBATE
We need a full-scale public inquiry in Scotland
into the value of wind power. I have been inundated
with letters of objection from constituents across
the country on this issue. It’s time we
weighed the value of wind power as an energy source
against the potential damage to the visual and
natural environment. Because of the renewable
energy target of 18% by 2010 and 40% by 2020 set
by the Scottish Executive, there has been a proliferation
of wind farm proposals. But there are major problems
with the decision-making process for wind farm
projects. The issue ends up being fought out locally
by groups of residents, the developer and the
local or regional authority, without the benefit
of clear guidelines and accurate information about
the benefits. Environmental Impact Assessments
are useful but what we need is an inquiry to examine
all the options for “clean” and renewable
energy before the entire country, Caithness and
Sutherland, Beauly to Denny, the Isle of Skye,
the Western Isles, the hillsides of Argyll, Perthshire,
Fife, Lanarkshire and the Borders are bristling
with turbines and straddled by new power lines
for an energy source whose output may not after
all match the expectations of its supporters.
UNSCRAMBLING THE LOGIC
You may not be aware that we have just celebrated
Egg Week but, for me, it highlighted Scottish
egg industry concern with some scrambled logic
from the European Commission. The egg industry
throughout Scotland and the rest of the EU is
nervous about an arrangement being negotiated
with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The Commission will soon be reducing the import
tariffs currently in place on various products,
including eggs and, more importantly, egg products
(which are cheaper to transport long distance)
coming from outside the EU. European egg producers,
breeders, hatcheries, packers, traders and processors
- including my constituents - say this will put
their industry at risk. The costly animal welfare
standards which will soon come into force for
EU producers will not be enforced in South America
and other non EU regions. The letter I received
from Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy admits that
lower animal welfare standards mean lower production
costs in non EU countries but he does not believe
this competition will be unfair. He thinks that,
because of the way we label products in the EU,
the consumer will understand that the EU eggs
are more expensive because they have been produced
under higher animal welfare standards than those
from South America and will buy them anyway! I
find this extremely scrambled logic. Price does
matter and surely no eggs or egg products should
be allowed to enter the EU tariff-free unless
produced to the same standards as required by
EU legislation. The European Egg industry accepts
there will have to be tariff reductions but asks
that they not be so drastic. Mr Lamy also holds
out the prospect of financial compensation for
the extra cost of EU animal welfare standards.
DOLPHINS V DEFENCE
The European Parliament voted for a resolution
calling for a study into the impact of naval sonars
on the marine environment. High intensity sonars
appear to be causing the deaths of marine mammals
like dolphins and porpoises. It seems the acoustic
effects of sonars disorientate these animals which
end up beached on our Scottish coasts. However,
the Royal Navy uses high intensity acoustic sonars
in its defence of the UK. They claim it is essential
that it acts as an early warning tool in our increasingly
dangerous world. Let’s hope we can come
up with a compromise between the protection of
sensitive marine environments and protection of
our country.
John Purvis is a member of the
Committee on Industry, Technology, Research and
Energy and Vice Chairman of the Committee on Economic
and Monetary Affairs. He can be contacted by e-mail
at jpurvis@europarl.eu.int or visit his website
on www.scottishtorymeps.org.uk.
Press Contact: Frances Donald
Tel 01592 643200
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