MEP HAILS SMARTPHONE APP THAT LETS EU TRAVELERS KNOW THEIR RIGHTS

SNP MEP Alyn Smith has advised holidaymakers travelling during the summer period to make sure they know their rights by downloading the European Commission’s latest app. 

The application - running on all the latest Apple iOS, Android, and Windows mobile devices - is part of the Commission’s "Your Passenger Rights at Hand" campaign and has already been downloaded over 140,000 times. 

Commenting, Smith - now in his third term as MEP for Scotland - said: 

“One of the most stressful points of any holiday is the fear that you could be faced with a heavy delay, which disrupts the rest of your plans. This new app will make it easier for anyone found in such an unfortunate situation to know what they are entitled to and if they can claim compensation. 

“From flight delays to train cancellations, as a European citizen you have rights and knowing them could save you thousands of pounds and unmeasurable stress. 

“The app has all the information and explains your rights in details - and in 25 different languages - in a user-friendly way, which fits right in your pocket. 

“The EU has delivered a lot in terms of consumer rights. Any passenger on a flight originating from the EU which is delayed for more than 3 hours can claim for compensation, up to £480 per person depending on the flight. 

“We’ve also seen repeated action on reducing charges for using your phone abroad with plans for roaming charges to be completely eradicated.

“With Parliament reconvening after the European elections in May, I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to make significant progress in ensuring more rights for passengers and consumers across the whole of the community.”


DELAYED FLIGHT? THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

LEADING MEP Alyn Smith is to demonstrate his support for buying local
and eating Scottish - by lending a hand at his local butchers.

Alyn, who is on the European Parliament’s powerful Agriculture
Committee, will be working behind the counter this morning (Saturday)
at the Mathieson shop in Ratcliffe Terrace in Edinburgh.

The move is being supported by both the NFU Scotland and Quality Meat
Scotland (QMS).

Alyn’s aim is to demonstrate his backing for Scotland’s independent
butchers and Scottish farmers as the horse meat scandal continues to
grow.

With many Scottish consumers now deeply worried about the transparency
of supply chains, shoppers are choosing to return to their local
butchers, who they often know and trust.

Speaking ahead of the visit, SNP Euro MP Alyn said: “I’m really
looking forward to doing this and to talking directly to customers
about the fantastic quality of our Scottish meat.

“I fear the horse meat scandal hasn’t gone away yet. Obviously I
welcome the fact that people are now turning back to their local
Scottish butcher, but this whole sorry affair has highlighted the need
for nothing less than a food revolution.

“Consumers need to connect more closely with retailers and producers-
and, of course, by supporting their local meat traders, that’s exactly
what they are doing.”

He continued: “People also need to know about the processes which lead
to their fridges being stocked.

“There must also be stronger vigilance to protect against those who
would abuse the system for personal gain, and a fairer deal for those
who produce our food in the first place. Buy local, and you’ll help
with all these things.”

Alyn added: “People want to know where their food comes from. Scottish
farmers are renowned for producing top quality produce, so they are in
a strong position to benefit from this trend.

“Local butchers often have a long, established relationship with the
farmers and know every step sausages, mince or steak take before they
reach our plates.”

Robert Wilson, the owner of Mathieson, said: “All produce in the shop
is 100 per cent traceable.

“The cattle come from the market in Newtown St Boswells in the
Scottish Borders, and I tend to buy from the same farm most weeks. I
am a livestock agent so I feed a lot of lambs myself and pigs always
come from the same source.

“I buy two or three or pigs from the same supplier every week - they
are slaughtered in Shotts Abattoir and delivered here one day
afterwards. We make our own sausages in this shop.”

“Steak mince comes from our cattle, and lamb mince and pork mince is
also prepared on these premises. The same procedure applies to our
steak cuts.”

Jim McLaren, chairman of Quality Meat Scotland, emphasised the
benefits of a short and trusted supply chain.

“The beef industry in Scotland is in a strong position having devoted
a great deal of time and effort to ensuring the Scotch Beef brand has
one of the most robust quality assurance schemes in the world.

“Our traceability is second to none and our total commitment over the
past few decades to ensuring the Scotch Beef label is underpinned by
some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

“This puts our industry in a position of strength and allows consumers
to have 100 per cent confidence in the brand.”

NFU Scotland President Nigel Miller also supported Alyn’s call for
shoppers to use and support their local butchers.

"Scottish farmers put their faith in the public and that faith has
been repaid in spadefuls by the support shown in the past few weeks.

"The Scottish red meat industry has a great story to tell that goes
all the way from the farm gate to the dinner plate.  Local butchers
are a vital part of the chain and have always been available to
reassure and inform shoppers on the quality and provenance of the meat
on their counter.

“It is great to see that customer service being rewarded and increased
sales of 20 to 40 per cent through local butchers is good news for
Scottish farmers and good news for the high street."

ALYN SMITH MEP BACKS LOCAL BUTCHERS AS HORSEMEAT SCANDAL CONTINUES

SNP MEP Alyn Smith has demanded that European arms manufacturers stop
interfering in US politics and gun laws following revelations that
they supply a quarter of the handguns sold in America as well as
millions of dollars to campaign against gun control.  Speaking after
the release of the latest figures from the US Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms, Alyn said:

"European arms manufacturers supply around a quarter of the guns sold
to American citizens every year.  In 2011, the latest year that we
have figures for, half of the guns imported into the US were from
Europe - one and a half million of them.  That means a quarter of the
civilian gun sales in the US are European guns and more than a million
out of the 1.7 million handguns imported to the US are European.

"European guns have been used in some of the worst shooting atrocities
in the US as well.  From the Glock and the Walther in the Virginia
Tech shooting in 2007 to SigSauer and Glock used in the 2012 Newtown
shooting, European guns have been right at the centre of US killings.

"Not only do these European companies supply guns that are used,
they're also supplying the money to campaign against gun control in
America.

"The Blood Money report by the US Violence Policy Centre laid out the
millions that European gun companies are giving to the NRA to campaign
to persuade the American government to let them carry on selling
whatever they want rather than controlling gun supply.

"Distasteful as I find it, the trade in guns is legal and so are the
donations, but that doesn't make them right.

"I think we have a right to know what European companies are getting
up to in other people's debates, there is a need for greater
transparency.  I've written to the European Commission to suggest a
central register of political donations by companies overseas as a
first step."

CONCERN OVER EUROPEAN ARMS MANUFACTURERS' INTERFERENCE IN US POLITICS

One of Scotland's biggest trade union branches has overwhelming back a yes vote in the 2014 independence referendum it has been announced. The Scotland No2 branch of the Communication Workers Union - the 2nd largest branch in Scotland with over 4000 members - backed the motion at their Annual General Meeting held yesterday [Sunday] in Edinburgh. 

The motion [in notes], also gives full backing to Yes Scotland, pledges to affiliate to the Trade Unions for Independence and promises to play an active role in the campaign for independence. 

The branch is also to consider lodging a motion at the national organisation's conference calling for national support for independence. 

Commenting Alyn Smith MEP said:

"This is a first class move by our Postal Workers. 

"Under Blair - and subsequently Brown - UK's Labour privatisation agenda in government severely weakened our postal service and the rights of Royal Mail workers. In order to protect our postal services from further decimation by the Westminster government, the Scottish Parliament must inherit powers to control over mail delivery and services in Scotland. That is why we have seen such an overwhelming backing of this motion and why posties are backing independence. 

"With the Tories continuing their slash and burn approach to public services - coupled with the recent swing to the right by the Scottish Labour party - we are seeing an ever increasing number of trade unionists back independence as the only means to save our lifeline services such as the postal service.

"With a yes vote in 2014, the Scottish Parliament will be able to ensure protection for our public services against the crippling actions of Westminster. With this backing from our posties, we're well on our way to delivering in 2014."

Ends

Notes to Editors: 

The motion adopted "overwhelmingly" by the Scotland No2 Branch of CWU is below - 

"This Branch recognises that the referendum on Scottish Independence, due to be held in autumn 2014, will be the biggest political decision any of us has been asked to make in our lives. 

We recognise that under consecutive governments the gap between rich and poor has widened and that the UK remains one of the most unequal societies in the developed nations of the world. 

We further recognise that round after round of anti trade union legislation, introduced by Tory governments throughout the 80s and 90s remain on the statute book despite 13 years of Labour government ’97-2010.

To this end we believe that the only way forward for workers in Scotland is to ensure a YES vote in the referendum and we agree to do all in our power to secure such an outcome.

To this end we pledge to:

1. Affiliate to the “Trade Unionists for Independence” campaign.
2. Give our full support to YES Scotland and take an active role within the campaign.
3. Initiate debate on the issue at future branch meetings, with invited speakers from both sides of the argument. 
4. Consider placing a motion to annual conference calling for support for our position and ensuring the continued unity of Postal and other workers throughout the UK and the wider world.

The committee is instructed accordingly."


AlynSmith MEP