Future of Local Power Supplies The future of one of Yorkshire�s largest power station looks as though it has been secured for at least a further fifteen years after Euro-MPs agreed to relax demands for pollution-cutting measures which could have led to its imminent closure. Europe will Approve Help for Tourism Government claims that EU rules prevent it from giving direct financial help to beleaguered tourism businesses in Yorkshire have been flatly denied by one of the region's Euro-MPs, and she has accused the tourism minister of being misinformed or deliberately misleading. �Scrap the Son of Star Wars� says Euro-MP Diana Wallis As protestors burn a giant Menwith Hill-style golf ball on the beach in Whitby, North Yorkshire�s Liberal Democrat Euro MP Diana Wallis has once again called for plans to base US National Missile Defence systems at Fylingdales to be scrapped. Euro-MPs Debate Cross-Border Consumer Dispute Resolution Diana Wallis MEP called for better protection for members of the public involved in cross-border consumer disputes in the European Parliament on Monday. THE TREATY OF NICE ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST? In light of the Irish "No Vote" here are some views from both sides of the argument to help you make up your mind on whether the UK should Ratify the Nice Treaty. Boost for Yorkshire Farmers as MEPs give Pigs more Room The European Parliament today endorsed proposals to improve living conditions for pigs on farms within the European Union, levelling the playing field for Yorkshire�s pig farmers. Paedophiles to face Tougher Sentences across EU Lib Dem Euro-MP Diana Wallis has welcome European Parliament support for EU legislation which will impose tough common sentences against internet paedophiles and anyone involved in the sexual exploitation of children. Call on UK government to scrap Strasbourg circus Diana Wallis MEP has called on Tony Blair to support the scrapping of the European parliament meeting in Strasbourg.

MEP claims �heavy-handed Government has lost all sense of justice�    01/08/2001 Liberal Democrat MEP Diana Wallis has accused the UK Government of being heavy-handed and having lost all sense of justice in relation to their crackdown on tobacco smuggling. She says, �By all means target organised criminals but in the last two weeks I have had two separate constituents come to me whose vehicles were used to bring in small amounts of tobacco and cigarettes through the port of Hull under the personal use rules. One woman whose car was used by her partner to bring in �500 of tobacco and cigarettes without her knowledge has now been deprived of a vehicle worth �8000. In her case the so-called �appeals process� has totally failed her. This cannot be justice nor can it be a worthwhile use of Customs and Excise time.� Diana Wallis explained, �The personal use rules are mere guidelines issued by the European Commission allowing 800 cigarettes or 1kg of rolling tobacco. The Government is interpreting this as black letter limits to save losses to the Treasury. As reported by BBC News today, Customs at Dover are confiscating up to 250 private vehicles a month. If the values of the case mentioned above were multiplied this could be netting the government over �2 million a month at Dover alone!� Ms Wallis has welcomed EU Internal Market Commissioner Bolkestein�s indication that he regards the UK customs crackdown as heavy-handed and a likely target for legal action by the EU which would result in compensation claims being payable to many vehicle owners. Said Ms Wallis, �I had already written to Treasury Minister, Paul Boateng, expressing my outrage on behalf of my constituent and we will certainly now be pursuing this matter vigorously with added back-up from Brussels. Yes, it�s excellent to pursue organised criminals but not to disregard the rights of innocent property owners like my constituent whose vehicle has been used by someone else for an alleged minor excise evasion�. If you have had a similar experience please contact Diana on 01482 609943 or email your comments through the contact section of the website.