Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-05-13-Speech-2-155"
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"en.20030513.7.2-155"2
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"Mr President, as this report rightly observes, next year is an election year and our electorates will be asked once again to vote for their MEPs. Those who seek re-election will no doubt be seeking to justify themselves on the basis of their record and new entrants will be of course arguing that they are better alternatives. Looking at this report, the phrase that stands out is 'best value for money'. How many prospective MEPs will be standing on this ticket? As a rule of thumb we calculate that each British MEP costs UK taxpayers about £1.2 million annually – that is of course pounds sterling – or just short of £100 million a year for them all.
When one considers value for money, however, this must be considered not only in relative terms, i.e. whether one or another MEP provides more value than the other, but in comparative terms, in comparison with what else could be bought. Given the great concern in the UK about health services, one comparison might be with the cost of health provision. For the price of our national representation we could afford to provide and equip and service a major teaching hospital – with some change left over. Another interesting comparison is that the money British taxpayers are spending on their MEPs would cover the entire operating costs of the police force of a medium-sized British county. Alternatively we could keep in service ten complete infantry battalions. I wonder which would give Britain more influence in the world. We could even pay for three Eurofighters a year, if they ever reach squadron service.
On the other hand, if this House actually prevented some of the more insane regulations created by the Commission from reaching the statute books, thus slowing down the growing burdens on business, there might be an economic argument for MEPs. As far as I can see, this House acts mainly as a rubber stamp, but here again I could get one of those in a stationery shop for approximately £3.00 or EUR5.00, which would be slightly cheaper.
In all, therefore, I have the greatest difficulty in arguing that this House or the British representation provide best value. That is the message I intend to take to my electorate."@en1
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