Subject: NEWS

BULLETIN FROM CONOR BURNS MP #79 Date: Tuesday, 13 December 2011 22:41:54 United Kingdom Time From: To: Conor Burns MP news@localconservatives.com

In this edition:
Conor Burns MPs Diary Website of the Week: The Home Heat Helpline Photo news: St Aldhelms Academy craft work What the Autumn Statement will mean for the South National Express launch new Coachcard concessionary scheme Photo news: Amnesty Internationals 50th Birthday Conor in Parliament: Conor questions PM on EU Council meeting Conor in Parliament: UK extradition arrangements debate Conor in the papers: Students are driving us out of our homes, say Winton residents Conor in the papers: Dorset MPs slam minister for wind turbine proposal Conor in the media: Conor on the EU Council Meeting Conor in the media: No 10 says no referendum needed for proposed EU changes Conor in the media: Newsnight How to contact Conor Burns MP

Issue 79 Tuesday 13th December 2011

Since the past edition, Conor has:

Questioned the Prime Minister following David Camerons statement on the recent EU Council meeting. Attended Amnesty Internationals 50th Birthday Party in Bournemouth and led a toast to freedom. Appeared on the Politics show to talk about what impact the Chancellors Autumn Statement will have on the South. Attended the launch of the Home Heat Helpline, a service set up to offer advice for those facing or living with fuel poverty. Contributed to the World at One on BBC Radio Four. Appeared on the BBCs Newsnight programme ahead of the European Summit, calling for repatriation of powers from Brussels. Spoken in the House of Commons on the need for the UK to revaluate its extradition laws. Visited St. Aldhelms combined Church of England School in Branksome. Held a constituency surgery at the Kinson Hub, meeting local constituents about any problems they need help with. Met with Liberal Democrat Councillors at St. Aldhelms Academy.

Website of the Week:

www.homeheathelpline.org.uk

The Home Heat Helpline

Conor Burns MP with Dragons Den star Hilary Devey, backing the Home Heat Helpline campaign. 6,600 households in Bournemouth West could be entitled to help with their fuel bills. New figures reveal that in Britain, one in ten households, or 3.5 million homes are entitled to some form of assistance with their fuel bills. That help is worth an average of 250 per household and a free helpline and website is available for more information. Lending his support to the Home Heat Helpline campaign, Conor Burns MP has said: "Around 6,000 homes in Bournemouth West constituency are entitled to some form of support. Anyone who is concerned about staying warm should call the Home Heat Helpline and seek advice. I would also ask people to look out for neighbours, friends or relatives who may be in difficulty and make sure that they are aware of the Home Heat Helpline." The number for the Home Heat Helpline is 0800 33 66 99 or you can visit www.homeheathelpline.org.uk. It is a free service that provides independent advice to people on low incomes on how to get help with their gas and electricity bills as well as other help such as grants for insulation or a new boiler. As well as supporting the campaign locally, Conor Burns MP recently met some of its friendly, trained advisers. He also heard from Dragons Den star Hilary Devey, who is backing the campaign to raise awareness of the Helpline and spoke of her experience of struggling to keep her home warm before she became a successful businesswoman. Christine McGourty from the Home Heat Helpline also advises people to think about what they can do around the home to reduce their energy consumption: As well as calling the Home Heat Helpline to find out what financial assistance is available there are some other simple steps people can take. For example: turn radiators down in rooms which you only use occasionally switch your lights off when you're not using them turn appliances like TVs and phone chargers off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby when they're not being used replace normal light bulbs with energy efficient ones regularly defrost your freezer to make sure it's operating at full efficiency draw curtains over windows at night to provide insulation for the room move furniture away from radiators and heaters to allow heat to circulate around the room open internal doors of any rooms which get more sun than others and let the warm air travel around your home

Home Heat Helpline: 0800 33 66 99 or www.homeheathelpline.org.uk.

Photo news:

St Aldhelms Academy craft work

Conor with Principle Cheryl Heron, Leader of Poole Borough Councillor Elaine Atkinson and a student of St. Aldhelms Academy being shown some of the schools craft work.

What the Autumn Statement will mean for the South

Conor discussing the Chancellors Autumn Statement on the BBCs Politics Show South. Last week, Conor appeared on the Politics show to talk about the Chancellors Autumn Statement and what impact it will have for people living in the south of England. In his statement, the Chancellor said that: We now know that the recession was even deeper than we thought, meaning the UK economy shrank more under Labour than any advanced economy except Japan. This confirms that it was the deepest recession in living memory. Recovering from such a deep recession was always going to take time... There was also some good news on the economy this week our large service sector is growing faster than people expected, and faster than in other European countries. This comes after better than expected manufacturing numbers on Monday [3 October 2011]... In the first six months of this year, the UK economy has grown faster than the US economy despite the latters massive fiscal stimulus... Since the general election, the private sector has created over half a million extra jobs... Our borrowing costs have fallen to record lows, showing that UK government debt is seen as a safe haven in the global debt storm and saving money for taxpayers, businesses and families... Over the past year businesses have invested 119 billion across the economy, up 3 billion on the year before... Britains credit rating, which was put on negative outlook under Labour, has been restored to its previous highest possible level. His comments about the current state of the economy and summary of the progress that the Conservatives are making helping Britain out of the recession, provided a background against which he could outline further measures for growth. These measures included supporting infrastructure, promoting fairness, protecting education and encouraging enterprise. These measures will affect the south west region specifically with plans to provide funding for South West Water to enable it to cut bills by 50 per year for all household customers and creating local enterprise partnerships in the South West that will receive over 75 million as part of the Growing Places Fund. This will mean that residents are able to save money on energy bills, something that the Government is working hard alongside energy companies to ensure, and that there will be many jobs and construction projects going to local people. The Localism Bill will ensure that these are managed by the local community and so deliver the environments that local residents want.

National Express launch new Coachcard concessionary scheme

Following the 2010 Government Spending review, funding reductions were made to many local transport services as local authorities struggled to deal with budget reductions. The company originally gave assurances to the Government about their willingness to offer a mitigating scheme following cuts to concessionary services for pensioners and people with disabilities. Following correspondence and various meetings with National Express, local MP Conor Burns has received confirmation that a new Coachcard has been introduced which offers a one third discount on fares. Commenting, Conor Burns said: This is a good start and I am pleased to note that the feedback has been positive. I remain determined however to work with National Express and any other appropriate coach operators to seek more innovative ways of offering further help to my constituents and those who wish to visit Bournemouth. Coachcards can be used at any time, every day, with no peak or offpeak restrictions. It's easy to book discounted tickets online, by phone, or at counters and ticket machines in any of our outlets.

Photo news:

Amnesty Internationals 50th Birthday

Conor at Amnesty Internationals 50th Birthday Party in Bournemouth, where he led a toast to freedom.

Conor in Parliament:

Conor questions PM on EU Council meeting

Monday 12th December 2011

Click on the image to watch Conors question to the Prime Minister. The text of Conors exchange with the Prime Minister was as follows: Conor Burns (Bournemouth West, Conservative): May I add my words of support for the Prime Minister, who at the weekend kept faith with this House and, more importantly, with the country? Can he confirm that, as the Foreign Secretary said yesterday, the existing treaties of the European Union belong to all 27 member states and that there can be no question of the eurozone countries having recourse to the institutions, mechanisms and procedures of those treaties? David Cameron (Prime Minister; Witney, Conservative): I think what my hon. Friend says is important. The treaties belong equally to those who are in the euro and those who are out of the euro. The key thing is that if there are going to be further changes to those treaties if you are going to allow the eurozone members to do something within the architecture of the European Unionit is important to get safeguards for those countries that are not in the euro, not going to join the euro, want to safeguard the single market and recognise that there is a potential threat to financial services. That is what we were about in Brussels and that is what matters.

Conor in Parliament:
Monday 5th December 2011

UK extradition arrangements debate

Click on the image to watch Conors speech. The text of Conors speech was as follows: Conor Burns (Bournemouth West, Conservative): I congratulate my hon. Friend Mr Raab on securing this debate. He has shown his usual tenacity and principle, which are becoming his hallmark. It is a bit of a relief, on this one-line Whip, to escape the burdens of PPS-dom and speak out on something about which I have felt passionately for some time. I have recently written a pamphlet entitled The case against the European arrest warrant, which will be published shortly. I will not trespass on my time by speaking a lot about the United States, except to place on the record my support and sympathy for Gary McKinnon and his family, who in my judgement have been badly treated. The public share that view strongly. I will concentrate on the European arrest warrant. My hon. Friends motion is moderate in calling on the Government to reform the UKs extradition arrangements to strengthen the protection of British citizens. As Dr Francis said, there is an emerging consensus in this House that that is something the Government should do. The political and emotional context in which the European arrest warrant emerged after the desperate events in New York on 11 September has been alluded to. In evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights at that time, the Liberal Democrat MEP Sir Graham Watson, who was chairman of the European Parliaments justice and home affairs committee, said that the proposal would still be on a shelf gathering dust if it hadnt been for the events in New York Mr. Bin Laden helped make it a reality. There is a great deal of truth to that. The workability of the European arrest warrant hinges on the principle of reciprocity between our courts and the courts of other countries. I will not dwell on this point because my right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis) and my hon. Friend the Member for Esher and Walton spoke passionately about why that is not a reality. Another element that is central to making the European arrest warrant work is proportionality in its application. On 9 January 2007, the presidency of the European Council delivered a communiqu to the bodys working party on co-operation in criminal matters, examining the application of the proportionality principle in matters relating to the European arrest warrant. Article 5 of the pre-Lisbon treaty on the functioning of the European Union stated that the proportionality principle is applied in respect of the four freedoms of the European Union, chiefly the free movement of goods, services, persons and capital. The treaty stated, however, that any action by the Community shall not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaty. It is surely clear that in its application, the European arrest warrant has gone well beyond proportional use. Let us look at some of the examples of warrants being issued. They have been issued in respect of offences such as the possession of 0.4 grams of cannabis, 1.5 grams of marijuana or three ecstasy tablets, the theft of two car tyres and even the theft of a piglet. There was also the case of a person arrested while driving a car with a blood alcohol level of 0.81 mg, compared with a UK limit of 0.80 mg. The problem has been recognised even by the European Commissioner with responsibility for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship. She stated last November that European arrest warrants should not be issued mechanically, or automatically, for crimes that are not very serious such as bicycle theft. Then there is the question of the number of European arrest warrants issued, which is also central to the application of the system. In 2009, the total number of arrest warrants issued was 14,789. My hon. Friend the Member for Esher and Walton will doubtless be aware that Bulgaria, Hungary and Italy were unable to provide figures for the number of arrest warrants issued in their countries. That backs up his point about the differences between systems. Poland issued 4,844, and France, a similar-sized country to the United Kingdom, issued 1,240. In the United Kingdom, we issued a mere 220. We can also examine where those citizens were living when the warrants were issued. Despite the United Kingdom being in the bottom quarter of issuers of warrants, those issued against people in the UK represented 38.8% of all the warrants issued across the whole European Union. David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden, Conservative): Top of the league. Conor Burns (Bournemouth West, Conservative): Indeed. There is a fundamental question whether the European arrest warrant is compatible with habeas corpus as we understand it in this country. The excellent Lord Vinson of Roddam Dene challenged the Home Office Minister then responsible in the other place, saying: The fact remains that hundreds of UK citizens are being compelled to appear before any EU court without the merit of the often frivolous charges being first assessed. They can be locked up without pre-trial. Is she not concerned that this totally overrides the ancient liberties of the British citizen enshrined in Magna Carta and habeas corpus? Will she assure the House that this will be resolved? The then Minister, Baroness Neville-Jones, responded: My Lords, the Government are concernedwith the disproportionate use of the European arrest warrant for trivial purposes.[Hansard, House of Lords, 26 January 2011; Vol. 724, c. 955-56.] That is another example of the consensus that is emerging across Parliament. Then there is the question of the principle of dual criminality. Under the European arrest warrant, British citizens or those living in the United Kingdom can be extradited to another European country for crimes that may not necessarily even be offences under United Kingdom law. That concern was raised by the Home Affairs Committee in its report on the application of the European arrest warrant of November 2002. The Committee stated that it had grave concerns about the abolition of the dual criminality safeguard. The variety of criminal justice systems and of legislative provisions within the member states of the EU makes it difficult for us to beconfidentthat it will be acceptable in all circumstances for a person to be extradited from the UK to face proceedings for conduct that does not constitute a crime in the UK. The fact that the European arrest warrant could necessitate a British court extraditing a British citizen for something that would not be illegal in the UK represents an entirely unacceptable incursion into our British criminal justice system. I am not a lawyer. I think my constituents regard being a politician as crime enough without being a lawyer as well, but to be a law-maker one does not have to be a lawyer. Most of my constituents are not lawyers either, but they smell that something is not right in the exercise of the European arrest warrant. They want the British Government to stand up for British citizens, and they want the freedoms and protections under the law that we have cherished for years.

Conor in the papers:

Students are driving us out of our homes, say Winton residents

Stephen Bailey, Bournemouth Echo Sunday 4th December 2011 Drunkenness, littering and vomiting desperate residents told an MP that student behaviour is driving them out of their homes. Around 15 people had a special closed meeting with Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns because they were worried about retaliation. They told him families were being driven out of Winton and the only people willing to take the properties were student landlords. The Winton Forum residents group, which organised the event, said people described situations where police officers were unable to exert control because they were outnumbered by dozens of drunken students. It added: Landlords were strongly criticised for failing to take responsibility for properties. The residents came from roads such as Green Road and Wycliffe Road. Stephanie Wilson, 48, a credit control solicitor from Cardigan Road, told the Echo that her road was now 70 per cent students. They drink before going out and its pointless trying to sleep before midnight, she said. That keeps children up and they have got school the next day. The students come home from 3am to 5am, and its not just at weekends. You dont get any sleep but then you have to go to work. I know some people that have had to visit their GP because of the problems. The university and the students union has been running education programmes. But Mrs Wilson said there were problems with broken bottles and overflowing litter bins, and said: They can say what they like, its only got worse over the last 15 years. Everyone is leaving. Resident and retired university lecturer Dr Brian Dicks, who did not work at Bournemouth, said: The real crux of the problem is the landlords who do not look after their properties. Anson Westbrook, chairman of the Winton Forum, said some residents did not want to sign a petition about the problems because they were frightened of retaliation. He said the meeting was closed so residents could speak their minds without feeling inhibited. MP Conor Burns said he was very concerned at what he had heard and would try to find solutions. Toby Horner, president of Bournemouth University students union, said he was incredibly frustrated at not being able to attend the meeting. He said: The union and the university have placed community relations much higher up the agenda than ever before, and many residents have acknowledged the significant advances that have been made. It is sad problems still exist, but it is inevitable that a small percentage of students will always let the side down. Bournemouth University said it could not comment properly because it could not attend the meeting but highlighted its new policy of fining rowdy student homes up to 75.

Conor in the papers:

Dorset MPs slam minister for wind turbine proposal

Stephen Bailey, Bournemouth Echo Wednesday 7th December 2011 MPs in Dorset have condemned a Liberal Democrat ministers proposals for 32,000 more wind turbines. Chris Huhne said they were needed because Britain was falling behind targets for renewable energy. Conservative MPs in Dorset already fighting schemes said the idea was illogical and the result of a fashionable consensus. Britain currently has 3,000 onshore wind turbines. Mr Huhne wants 6,000 to 10,000 more onshore, and up to 25,000 offshore, with many visible from land. Eneco currently plans to build 150 to 240 turbines in Poole Bay, around 10 miles from Bournemouth, and eight miles from Swanage and Christchurch. Purbeck District Council has approved a turbine near Tolpuddle and two appeals are to be heard next year over wind farms at Silton, near Gillingham, and at Masters Pit, near Wareham. Terry Stewart, president of the Dorset branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England has written to all the countys MPs urging them, and the Conservative Party, to fight Mr Huhnes plans. Bournemouth West Conor Burns said: I fear we are in the grip of a fashionable consensus. Changing the Governments energy policy is sadly not in my gift. But I will use whatever influence I have to ensure that if these things are put in our bay they will be put somewhere that does not destroy the magnificent view enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. South Dorset MP Richard Drax said: My view is simple I dont like them. We should have our energy provided by nuclear power. Its essential we are self-sufficient without being at the mercy of some countries that produce fossil fuels. Wind Turbines will be antiquated in a few years because much more efficient renewable sources like tidal power will be developed. North Dorset MP Bob Walter said: Dorset is the most illogical place to put wind farms because the wind doesnt blow enough. He said the only reason people wanted to build wind farms is because of the subsidies involved.

Conor in the media:

BBC World at One Monday 5th December 2011

Conor on the EU Council Meeting

Being interviewed on the BBCs World at One programme ahead of the EU Coucil meeting, Conor Burns MP said, we should use the opportunity of this treaty change to say to our European partners if you want to go down the route youre going down, please carry on, but this is the opportunity finally to get the British dog out of the federalist manger, let you do want you want, but let us have some more of our powers back. Then asked Should there be a referendum here in the event of treaty change? Conor said: The first thing I think it should mean, Martha, is that our interests on this occasion coincide rather than collide. The European Union, the Eurozone need our permission to have treaty change and I think we then have the opportunity to use that treaty change to begin a process of repatriation of some powers to the United Kingdom and thats the first thing that the government need to be addressing in the negotiation stance. And finally asked will that necessarily mean that a referendum has to be triggered in this country if it doesnt make substantial legal changes to the U.Ks position? Conor replied: Well, what we would have is we would have a completely different relationship with a new entity, a lock Eurozone, a single economy, in the Eurozone and that does fundamentally change the relationship the United Kingdom has with that Eurozone, if we dont use the opportunity of treaty change to begin a process of repatriation. Now the referendum lock that the Government has passed says that there should be a referendum if there is a transfer of power from Britain to Brussels. I can't see that these treaty changes will do that, but I think we should have a process where the powers are coming back the other way, as we promised at the last general election

Conor in the media:

No 10 says no referendum needed for proposed EU changes

BBC News website Monday 5th December 2011 No 10 has said none of the proposed changes being discussed about the future shape of the European Union would trigger a referendum in the UK. Germany and France are developing a plan for greater fiscal integration among the eurozone's 17 members ahead of a crucial meeting on Friday. Many MPs say this would alter relations with the EU and a referendum is needed. But Downing Street said it did not meet the test for a vote, which required a major transfer of powers to Brussels. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met on Monday to discuss a blueprint for the future shape of the eurozone, as well as urgent steps to deal with Europe's financial and economic problems. 'Not on table' The meeting came ahead of a summit of all 27 EU leaders on Friday seen as crucial to supporting the euro and signalling the future direction of the eurozone. Following the meeting between their two leaders, Germany and France said the EU needed a new treaty signed by all EU members, but if that was not possible, signed by the 17 states which have adopted the euro. While the UK is not a member of the single currency, the prime minister says he will defend the UK's national interests should the eurozone move towards closer fiscal union and budgetary cooperation. But he is likely to face renewed calls for a referendum on any changes in the UK. Last month, more than 80 Tory MPs defied the government and called for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU. One of them, the leading Tory eurosceptic Bill Cash says in the light of the call for a new treaty there must now be a referendum. "This is a major Treaty change whether it is for the eurozone-17 or the EU-27 because it fundamentally changes the relationship of Britain to the EU," he says. "It therefore requires a referendum, irrespective of the attempt to bypass the British people with the European Union Act this year." The former Tory Cabinet minister John Redwood said a referendum would strengthen David Cameron's hand in future EU talks. "What a lot of us are advising him is that this is an opportunity now to redefine Britain's relationship," he said. "The best sanction to try and get something in Britain that we want is to say that any treaty change will have to be approved by the British people." The coalition has said there will only be a referendum if there is a further substantial transfer of powers from Westminster to Brussels. But there has been tension between the Conservatives and Lib Dem partners over what would trigger this. "Referendum lock" Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said on Sunday that a public vote was unlikely because the eurozone changes could be secured without a treaty change, but Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the public must be consulted in the event of any major treaty change. But No 10 indicated on Monday that a referendum was unlikely under the terms of the "referendum lock" legislation passed by Parliament last year. And Mr Cameron said, after an NHS speech: "As prime minister, I am not intending to pass any powers from Britain to Brussels. So I don't think the issue will arise. The measures under consideration were about how the eurozone countries organised and governed themselves, Downing Street added. Conor Burns, parliamentary private secretary to the Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson, said MPs in government and on the backbenches were urging the prime minister to fulfil the party's election pledge to repatriate powers. "We should use the opportunity of this treaty change to say to our European partners: 'If you want to go down the route you are going down, please carry on,'" he told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme. "But this is the opportunity, finally, to get the British dog out of the federalist manger." Financial veto Some MPs are backing a proposal from the Open Europe think-tank for a veto on financial regulation coming out of Brussels which might damage the City of London. In a new report, Open Europe warns that the UK is increasingly losing influence over financial regulation coming out of Brussels, often finding itself outvoted, and that the UK must fight its own corner as the eurozone "pushes its own agenda". "There is a growing divergence between the UK's economic interests and the slew of regulations coming from Europe," said its director, Mats Persson. The Labour leader Ed Miliband says Mr Cameron is not at the heart of the debate on Europe's future as he should be. "What I actually see is a Prime Minister who is standing on the sidelines or having a row within his own party about what needs to happen in Europe," he said.

Conor in the media:

Newsnight

Conor Burns MP being interviewed on the BBCs Newsnight programme ahead of the EU Council meeting, where he calling for repatriation of powers from Brussels.

Three ways to contact Conor Burns MP:

By Phone: 020 7219 7021 By email: conor.burns.mp@parliament.uk By post: Conor Burns MP House of Commons London SW1A 0AA

www.conorburns.com
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