Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-04-19-Speech-4-613-000"
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"en.20120419.24.4-613-000"2
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"Mr President, may I assure the Commissioner that we in the United Kingdom believe that it is important for Europe to remain at the forefront of research into the next generation of energy provision. For that reason we strongly support the ITER project. Accordingly we are happy to support this deal which was reached with the Council. We understand that it will provide an extra EUR 350 million, and that is of course part of this amending budget.
I have to declare an interest here, because the Culham research laboratory near Oxford is within my constituency. However, I would point out that, in assuring the future of this facility, we will be assuring the future of over 500 jobs for research workers. These are people who are delivering world-leading technology, and this is a technical expertise which frankly we cannot afford to lose.
But I have to say a word of caution, Commissioner. As always with such leading-edge technology, it is bedevilled with cost overruns and delayed delivery. With that in mind there are three points that I want to make.
The first is that additional funding must be found from within the existing budgets, and I note that through this deal we shall not be calling on Member States to provide any additional funding in 2012. This is exactly right, because governments and budgets are under severe restraint. That too must be the case in 2013.
Secondly, this is taxpayers’ money, so it is important that we instil a culture of financial discipline in the research community – but it is also important that within this House we impose responsible scrutiny on that industry. However, to do that, we have to be kept informed, and I urge you, Commissioner, to supply us with the information on which we must make those judgements.
Finally, to facilitate the above, I think it is absolutely vital that ITER comes within the next Multiannual Financial Framework, not outside it. As Carl Haglund said earlier, we will need to see it ring-fenced, budgeted and accountable."@en1
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