Andrew George MP at Liberal Democrat Conference – Day Two

Andrew George MP, continues his full and varied schedule at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Birmingham:

This morning, Monday 19th September, Andrew George MP took part in a roundtable event at the Birmingham ICC called ‘Biofuels in 2011: Examining the Evidence’ It was jointly hosted by ActionAid, Friends of the Earth, the RSPB, and the Green Liberal Democrats. At the roundtable MPs, MEPs, scientists and environmental journalists discussed the use of biofuels, the rapidly increasing demand for them, and the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive which commits Member States to a target of 10% of land transport fuel coming from biofuels by 2020.

Mr George is Chair of the Liberal Democrat Decc Team in the Commons.

Also on Monday afternoon Andrew George MP spoke at an event hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Water at the Hyatt Hotel in Birmingham, callled ‘Preparing for the Water White Paper’. The theme was the Government’s Water White Paper which is due to be published in December. Topics of discussion included aspirations for the White Paper, key changes expected, and the challenges the sector faces in the future. Speakers included Michelle Lewis (Yorkshire Water), Peter Simpson (Anglian Water) and the Chair was Dan Rogerson MP (Member of the Environment and Rural Affairs Select Committee).

Mr George is Co-Chair of the APPG Water and has long campaigned for changes to the water rates charging formula to reduce the disproportionately high water bills in Cornwall and across the south west.

On Monday afternoon Andrew George MP spoke at an event called ‘Has fish had its chips?’ The event was hosted by Chris Davies MEP (Co-Founder of the European Parliament ‘Fish for the Future’ Group) at the Jurys Inn Hotel in Birmingham. The theme of the discussion was how the Liberal Democrats can work within Government to reform the Common Fisheries Policy to help provide a sustainable future for both the marine environment and the UK fishing industry. Essential to this will be eliminating wasteful discards that is caused by the current quota system.

Mr George is Chair of the Liberal Democrat Defra Team in the Commons and has also long campaigned for a sustainable future for both his local marine environment and the long term viability of the local fishing industry.

This evening, Monday 19th September, Andrew George MP spoke at an event called ‘Are the Liberal Democrats being heard?’ The event was hosted by the National Farmers’ Union and the Food and Drink Federation at the Copthorne Hotel in Birmingham. Speakers include Peter Kendall (President of the NFU) and Melanie Leech (Director General of the Food and Drink Federation). The theme of the discussion was the Liberal Democrat’s role in delivering the Coalition Government’s policies on farming and agriculture. A short panel discussion was followed by a debate  led by questions from the floor.

Mr George is Chair of the Liberal Democrat Defra Team in the Commons.