Dec 14th 2011- Speech to Parliament Strasbourg - "Mid Term of the European Strategy for health and Safety at Work"

Delivered by Derek Clark on 14 December 2011

Speech to Parliament Strasbourg 14th Dec 2011

"Mid Term of the European Strategy for health and Safety at Work"

President, "How many men to change a light-bulb? In one English Council tenants must send for Council staff who may not use ladders, only scaffolding. That's three people; one holds the rigging, one changes the bulb, one supervises.

Now that's the crazy English but we do have better examples.

At a meeting 6 years ago I was astonished to hear of the number of young people injured at work. The independent body, unconnected with the EU, which had called the meeting, suggested a range of safe practices which they claimed had reduced these figures, without legislation.

As I have said before, good ideas always spread and a Latvian took these documents to use locally. But the EU legislates, we do it every day, why, if good results can be achieved by unbiased advice from a non-political source?

So I ask that elements of this draft report such as, "simplifying existing legislation", "implementing national strategies" and "adjusting to the context of member states" carry through to the final, advisory, version. Voluntary systems are always best; no infringement proceedings.

(NB This was a contribution to "Oral question", so it was under "Catch-the Eye", one minute maximum always. Since it was 10.45 pm before I rose to speak I had little competition for the President's eye, there being 9 MEPs present at the time. The video of this is already on my web site because, as often happens, I amended my original script during earlier speakers and I did not get round to a re-write until late this morning, Thursday. I first did some TV work, which will come through later, and then acted as whip, then voting. Gerard Batten is our usual whip but he had returned home to attend the funeral of Gerald Roberts. Gerald was a long serving and very hard working member, one on the first of UKIP I met outside the East Mids.)

Sadly I must also tell you of the death on Wednesday evening this week of Graham Booth. Many of you will have known Graham, one of our first MEPs, and a staunch UKIP worker in the South West and elsewhere. He leaves his wife, Pam, and several children and grand children. I knew him well and, like very many other members, I have lost a true friend.

Derek Clark MEP

Strasbourg - 15 December 2011