The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP

Late August Column

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Relief at lifting of restrictions

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Farmers will be mightily relieved that the export ban on British meat has been lifted early following the restrictions imposed as the result of the foot and mouth outbreak in the south of England.

I was on holiday when the outbreak was discovered and immediately realised the sinking feeling the industry would be experiencing.

I lost no time on my return talking to people in the constituency to establish just what the implications were.

Everyone understood and supported the immediate imposition of restrictions. The last outbreak was so devastating and so long precisely because animals had moved all over the country before the disease was discovered.

We may never know exactly how this outbreak occurred but it is clear it came from a Government research station, which perhaps explains why it was picked up so early and contained so well.

After the initial emergency, however, it is clear that frustration set in as a result of detailed restrictions on movements not only on and off farms but within farms. These were costly to implement aggravating the uncertainty as to the state of the market at a time when, particularly lamb exports were at a peak.

To endure this five hundred miles away from an outbreak that looked to have been quickly contained is clearly hard to bear.

I wrote to the commission supporting the recommendation of an early return to normality to areas outside the south east of England and was pleased that the committee unanimously agreed to this being clearly satisfied by the speed and efficiency of the Government's response.

Let us hope that this is clear evidence that lessons have been learned from the 2001 disaster and that it will never be repeated.

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Summer tour keeps me in touch

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My 25th summer tour seems to have been as useful as the first in terms of meeting people, helping where I can and keeping up to date with issues affecting small communities.

In 1983 the tour was something of an innovation. Now many MPs do something similar.

I regularly visit all parts of the constituency throughout the year but this summer tour makes sure I visit smaller communities.

A number of issues have been raised - many that are personal and confidential. But I have had the chance to call on schools, shops, post offices, pubs etc and find out what is causing concern.

People are understandably apprehensive about the threat to our local post offices which are currently being evaluated before detailed closure proposals are published in February. Some are an essential support to the local shop and it is fanciful to believe that people will travel cross country to another village if their local office closes. One person told me they ran a business from home which, as a non driver, depended entirely on the local post office.

It was also instructive to be told that the growing amount of mail being carried by the local posties on behalf of companies other than Royal Mail led to misunderstandings as to who to complain to.

This will be a major issue in the next few months.

I was also apprised of funding problems for local playgroups, ambitious plans for more than one local hall, which raises funding issues and some satisfaction with the traffic calming measures at Foveran School.

Of course, these are interim measures, until the dual carriageway on the A90 is finally completed. This campaign has had many twists and turns. The Tories cancelled it leading to a successful local petition to reinstate it.

I received the petition from the school children at Foveran and presented it to Parliament resulting in the Government renewing its commitment. This was then cancelled by the new Labour Government only to spark more campaigning to get the Scottish Executive to agree.

I am glad that Lib Dem Ministers moved it forward to the point where it should go ahead hopefully without excessive delay.

Once again the tour generates new issues and refreshes ongoing ones.

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Spotlight in technology bid at Offshore Europe

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Next week is Offshore Europe week when North East accommodation is stretched beyond the limit but the future of the industry and innovative technology is showcased.

As usual I will be attending a number of events. While the high oil price may suggest the industry is in buoyant mode, the fall in gas prices will cause concern as most producing UK oilfields have associated gas that makes the effective oil price much lower than the headline.

No doubt there will be much talk in the wings about the Scottish bid to host the public/private Energy Technology Institute and the role that Aberdeen may secure.

Much has been said of the politics that has led to the hub of the Scottish bid being Glasgow.

However if the Scottish bid is to succeed it is because the critical mass of innovation within the industry is centred in Aberdeen.

There are around 800 companies based in our region. Many of them have a global reach and leading edge technology and innovation. Nor is it all related to oil and gas. Much of it can be applied to other energy sectors. Offshore technology will be required for wind, wave and tidal developments and sophisticated technology may apply to transport, generation and distribution.

This critical mass could potentially unlock massive investment potential on a scale that no other centre could match.

I hope we can persuade the ETI board and ministers of the unique strength of Aberdeen's case within the Scottish bid.

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Early election speculation

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If commentators in the media are to be believed, we could be facing an autumn General Election. Until recently I did not give much credence to this but events of recent weeks lead to believe that Gordon Brown, canny though he is, may be tempted to go early.

The reasons are not far to seek. First and foremost, since his accession to number 10, Labour has acquired a clear lead in the polls and the Tories have been in disarray and divided.

Secondly, there are signs of more difficult times ahead for the economy which could both compromise any feel good factor and squeeze public finances.

Thirdly the fact that Labour held both by elections in July and the Tories came third behind the Liberal Democrats gives solid grounds for Mr Brown to believe he could win and secure a mandate for a full term Government in his own right.

The counter argument is that Mr Brown has waited ten years to get the top job and may not want to put it a t risk before he has made his mark. Labour is short of funds and although rich backers have offered to fund an early election this may be a hostage to fortune after the cash for honours scandal.

He may also want to wait until the gloss has come off the SNP honeymoon and he can feel more confident about his own back yard.

For me it just reinforces the case for fixed term parliaments as months or even years of speculation about possible elections do nothing for stability or confidence in the political process.

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Too many jobs?

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The SNP clearly succeeded in May's Holyrood elections beyond their expectations. Several candidates were elected off the list and to their local council and have now had to decide whether to choose Holyrood or local government because they are finding it impossible to do two jobs .I wonder if any of them have discussed this with their leader!

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Rights and responsibilities

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There have recently been some outspoken exchanges in the media about the activities of travellers in and around Aberdeen. I have no intention of joining in other than to say criticising sentiments expressed in extreme terms is not restricting free speech merely using the right to disagree strongly.

I have been drawn into this when some travellers short stop sites have generated local concern.

Travellers have rights enshrined in law and local authorities are obliged to cater for them. Rights, however, do carry responsibilities and if these are observed it should be possible to find solutions that reduce potential conflict and concern within settled communities.

27 August 2007