STANDING STILL WITH THE MOBILE INTERNET

Some time ago I blogged about how wireless services can help to bridge the so called 'digital divide'.

You might be interested in this article in The Observer, which highlights that more and more internet users are shunning traditional broadband internet connections in favour of wireless 3G broadband. They're finding it easier to setup and in some case cheaper too.

Anything that helps get more people connected to the internet - cheaply - is to be welcomed.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/jun/22/internetphonesbroadband.telecoms

IN SUPPORT OF 24 WEEKS

Today two horrific stories have been playing on my mind:

The first of a 14 year old girl in Poland who was raped by a school friend. She and her mother decided that she should have an abortion. Even though abortion is illegal in Poland under 'normal' circumstances it is legal if the pregnancy is the result of a crime. Nevertheless, when the young girl and her mother went to her doctor the doctor not only refused to perform the abortion but called in Fr Krzystof Podstaka, an anti-abortion campaigner, to 'talk' to the girl. When the girl and her mother went to a different clinic is Warsaw Fr Podstaka was there this time with a group of campaigners and managed to prevent the abortion taking place. Fr Podstaka also filed charges against the girl's mother accusing her of 'coercing' her daughter into having the abortion. Although the court should have dismissed the case immediately as her mother was acting as the child's legal guardian, the court started hearing witnesses that the girl should be put into foster care.

Thankfully, at the last minute Poland's minister for health Ewa Kopacz intervened and found a clinic willing to perform the abortion. Kopacz now finds herself the focus of anti-abortionist's campaigns; the girl's mother still faces criminal charges. The first doctor who called Fr Podstaka faces no legal recrimination over breach of confidentiality as this is only an ethical guideline in Poland and not a legal requirement.

In Romania, an 11 year old girl, the victim of a horrendous rape by her uncle and is now 20 weeks pregnant is going through similar political wrangling. In Romania abortion is legal to up to just 14 weeks of pregnancy. The girl's family did not suspect that their 11 year old was pregnant until her 17th week. The girl's option is now to go to Britain to have this abortion performed as, thankfully, we have kept our 24 week limit. But things are not that easy for her. Two separate local government committees have passed two separate and contradictory rulings on her case. One has stated she should be allowed go to Britain, the other stating that as the mother and foetus are physically healthy the pregnancy should continue.

One wonders why these people do not take into account the mental health of this girl who has obviously suffered severe trauma after a rape and now pregnancy. Why do they insist she should be further tortured by carrying the pregnancy to term?

A government committee will rule tomorrow as to whether this girl's ordeal will be put to an end and allow her to travel to the UK.

Luckily in the UK very few abortions take place so late in the term of a pregnancy but we are equally lucky that the option still remains. I think these two cases serve as a stark reminder as why the 24 week limit is so very important for women in the UK.

WOMEN ON TOP?

In July the French take over the rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers. This means that for better or worse we'll be seeing a lot more of President Sarkozy over the next six months.

According to The European Voice, "France is planning a grand symbolic gesture to launch its presidency of the Council of Ministers." On 1st July women representatives of each Member State hope to climb Mont Blanc.

Rather than a "grand symbolic gesture", wouldn't it be more productive if President Sarkozy threw his weight behind a campaign, that I've signed up to, called Females in Front which hopes to promote more women into the top positions in the European Union. With women making up over half the population of the EU it is a disgrace that we are so under represented at the top.

How different things could have been had Segolene Royal been elected President.

Commissioner Margot Wallstrom has also blogged about this

http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/wallstrom/


Please sign the petition on the Females in Front website:

http://www.femalesinfront.eu/default.asp?lang=gb&view=about_uk

BONKERS BORIS SACKS WOMEN

No-one expected Bonkers Boris to stand up for women's rights. The Tories' record is appalling. Their MEPs have consistently opposed measures to improve women's lives including, amazingly, failing to support a resolution calling for the banning of female genital mutilation across the EU.

I have just come from a meeting of the European Parliament Culture and Education Committee where one of the Conservative MEPs voted against a report calling for women to be encouraged to study science and technology and take up management positions.

So it's no surprise that Boris Johnson has purged women from City Hall and scrapped the post of women's adviser held by Anni Marjoram. Anni did a good job for Ken Livingstone on behalf of women. Ken maintained one of the few dedicated women's rights officers in the public sector anywhere in Europe. London led the way, but sadly does so no more.

The Tories want to take us back to a time before equality of opportunity, a time when women were denied the chances they now have. For all our sakes, we cannot let that happen.

CULTURE CITY

London is one of the most dynamic cities in the world for the media, film, television and broadcasting sectors. As a London MEP I have regular meetings with employees in the creative industries. On Monday I'll be meeting with representatives of the culture trade unions.

You can read my latest briefing on culture issues in the European Parliament by clicking on the link below:

http://www.maryhoneyball.net/culture.htm

ON THE RADIO

Today I was interviewed on Radio Ulster about the separation of religion and politics as well as the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. You can listen to the interview here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/ulster/aod.shtml?ulster/tb_wed

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR CYPRUS

This article written by me appeared in the English section of "Parikiaki", London's Greek newspaper, on 12 June. I hope to be able to write more good news pieces on Cyprus in the future.


"Nicosia's Ledra Street, a dead end guarded by soldiers not so very long ago, now stretches its full length through both the south and the north of the city. I was fortunate to see the transformation for myself at the end of May. Bathed in hot sunshine, the once downtrodden and under-populated road was full of life, testimony to the new-found hope that there may finally be a resolution to the long standing division of Cyprus and that the beautiful island will be reunited again. Joining the milling throng, I followed in the footsteps of Mehmet Ali Talat, when he walked over the Green Line shortly after the crossing was opened. I too tried ice-cream from Iracles, surely the best on the island.

"The optimism in both parts of Cyprus is palpable. George Iacovou, the first of those I met on May 29, was quietly confident, while the British High Commissioner, Peter Millett, thought this was the possibly the best opportunity so far for progress on the Cyprus problem. I also talked to representatives in the north: Ozdil Nami, Mr Talat's special representative, and Mehmet Cakici of the Social Democratic Party, both of whom felt there was movement towards a settlement.

"The meetings between Dimitris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat on 21 March and 23 May have set the process towards a settlement on a forward trajectory. There is a real sense that the two leaders mean business. For the first time there is a commitment to ending the problem, a desire by both leaders to move on and forge an agreement which will command support from both south and north. In the end it has to be a Cypriot solution to a Cypriot problem. It is looking very much that this is the way things are going.

"One of the barriers in the past to any final agreement was that the negotiations were carried out for Cypriots not by Cypriots. I do not think that mistake will be repeated this time. The international community seems more aware that its role is to facilitate when required and be generally supportive. For a solution to work in both the short and the long term it has to be negotiated as well as accepted by Cypriots.

"The infrastructure required to work out the detail required for meaningful talks has been put in place, a sure sign that all concerned are taking the process seriously. Working groups to look at the broader issues and technical committees to delve into detail are now well underway. While in Cyprus I was able to talk to Costas Apostolides, a member of one of the technical committees, who was encouraging about the way things were going.

"I left blissfully sunny Cyprus for the wet weather of London full of hope. There is still
a long way to go; there will be no quick fix. If the old attitudes of distrust can be put aside, I believe the end of the Cyprus problem may now be in sight."

VAL PRICE

Many of you may have heard of the death of Val Price at the relatively young age of 67. We will miss Val. Her great sense of purpose and dedication was an inspiration to all.

Val was a tireless campaigner on behalf of women. She made an amazing contribution to Labour Women’s Network and Emily’s List, working behind the scenes to make sure things happened. Women like Val, who carry on with little public recognition are the bedrock of the Labour movement.

Val started with Labour Women’s Network (LWN) over twenty years ago. There is a generation of women who have never known LWN without her. Maybe one of them will take over her mantle.

Warm regards to Val’s family in these difficult times. Our thoughts are with you.

CHILD SAFETY ONLINE

Yesterday the Government signalled its support for a new set of standards for internet content. This is welcome.

The way people consume television is changing rapidly. Just this week Apple announced their new iPhone which will make it even easier to watch video on the move.

I am only too aware of how difficult it is to regulate a fast evolving market. Last year I worked on the EU's so called 'Audiovisual Media Services Directive' which covers broadcasting laws across the EU. We looked at a number of issues surrounding child protection. How can parents keep an eye on what children are watching when they are carrying around their own video player?

When we watch traditional broadcast television we have come to expect certain levels of protection, particularly before the watershed. Such expectations don't necessarily exist on the internet or when watching streamed television. New codes of conduct from mobile operators are clearly necessary. I recently spoke to T-Mobile about some of the work their are doing on their 'Contect Lock'

You may be interested to read this article in The Guardian which explains some of the issues:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jun/12/internet.digitalmedia

ROAMING FREE

Last year MEPs clamped down on mobile phone roaming charges. Under the rules we imposed, mobile phone operators were limited to the amount they can charge users who take their mobile phone on holiday. We hoped this would avoid both holiday makers and business people from receiving an unpleasant surprise when they returned home - in the form of a huge bill.

This year will be the first full summer season when these new capped rates will apply. I'd be interested in your views as to whether this regulation has been a success. Are you more likely to use your phone abroad now that the price is capped at a reasonable level? What do you think about the notification text messages that you receive when you roam? Do these text messages give you a clear enough indication of what price you will be charged to make and receive calls abroad?

When we introduced the roaming regulations, MEPs decided to only cover voice calls initially. However we challenged the mobile phone operators that if they didn't cut their text message and data charges from abroad, we would look at introducing measures to reduce those prices too.

Lets hope the phone networks take action on data prices so that we don't have to.

EURO 2008

I was on Radio 4's 'Woman's Hour' this morning to highlight the problems surrounding the illegal trafficking of women and children for forced prostitution at major sporting events.

I want to make sure we learn all the lessons we can, so that the 2012 Olympics are not blighted by illegal trafficking.

You can listen to the programme here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/ram/2008_24_mon_02.ram

Expenses Again

You may be interested the following extracts from Guido Fawkes' blog.

Incidentally, Giles Chichester has now resigned as Leader of the Tory MEPs.

"+++ Another "Whoops-a-Daisy" Tory MEP +++

"Guido treads warily with this one since Den Dover MEP got The Sun (at the hands of Carter-Ruck) to apologise for accusing him of expense fiddling. Clearly Den Dover is very sensitive to suggestions that he is an expense fiddler.

"He is the chief-whip of the Tory MEPs led by Giles Chichester, who has himself been caught "whoops-a-daisy" paying £445,000 of public funds to a company of which at one time only he and his wife were remunerated directors. So what of his colleague Den Dover? Here is an extract from his recently updated declaration of interest (full document here)
click to enlarge

"It was updated shortly after Open Europe's Transparency Initiative started asking him questions about his expenses. Den Dover said repeatedly he had nothing to declare in the past, but mentioned this time for no apparent reason, in passing, that his wife and daughter work for the company that he pays out of his expenses. Fancy that!He didn't mention that as well as paying his wife and daughter some £376,916 in salary, the company in question is based at his home address. The company has spent £32,462 on "repairs". Presumably repairs to a property. Guido wonders which property could that be getting repaired at the taxpayers expense?Did Guido mention that the family firm has had £56,411 in motoring expenses off the taxpayer as well? Finally, and this takes the euro-biscuit, the family firm makes five figure profits. Whoops-a-Bloody-Daisy....Why is his wife's family firm profiteering out of his expense claims? Shouldn't the claims and payments be made on a costs basis, rather than a profiteering basis? The family is troughing enough at the taxpayers expense already without rubbing our noses into it and profiteering.The profiteering factor from bills from his wife, authorised by him, to a business based in the family home is worse than Derek Conway. In total he has authorised payments of £758,143 to his family's firm since he joined the Euro-gravy train...The silence from Labour and the Lib Dems on this issue is revealing - top Tory MEPs are fiddling the system and they have nothing to say? Guido has tried to get comments from the Labour and Liberal Democratic Brussels press offices. Why would they be so silent? Could it be that they are all at it? Guido is coming for them too...The only on the record comment Guido got was from UKIP's Nigel Farage "Mr Cameron said he wanted to 'clean-up' British politics but so far Chichester has only been summoned to the bridge. He needs to take tough action if he doesn't want to be a hypocrite." Exactly..."

"He Says "Whoops-a-Daisy", We Say "Corrupt"

"Tory MEPs are led by Giles Chichester, who has been caught paying £445,000 of public funds to a company of which at one time only he and his wife were remunerated directors. Now he has been caught red-handed profiteering from public monies and only after days of calls for him to go, what does he say? He told West Country ITV last night:
...whoops-a-daisy I am shown up to have made a mistake. OK, hands up, mea culpa and I am putting it right.

"Not "whoops-a-daisy", not a "mistake", Giles Chichester deliberately and disgracefully used a front-company to profiteer from his own expense claims. That is unethical, dishonest and a resignation matter. He is supposed to be fighting waste and EU-fiddles - not designing them.He is now trying the Peter Hain ruse of reporting himself to the authorities, after he has been caught, no doubt he will go on to apologise for his "errors", claiming that is was somebody else's fault that he mistakenly profited from taxpayers funds in a shady under-the-counter arrangement.He is not the only Tory MEP blatantly profiteering. Guido will be revealing another "whoops-a-daisy" later this morning.. Dave has made an issue of transparency, promising that his expenses will all be made public and that he will insist on his MPs doing everything above board. The MEPs in Brussels, more used to the continental ways, are proving to be opaque and less than open about their dealings. 13 Tory MEPs have refused to make public their expenses. So public money is spent unaccountably by politicians who are supposed to be holding the EU Commission to account. Much of the cash is known to end up in the bank accounts of people close to the MEPs themselves.

"At the European Parliament yesterday afternoon they held a hearing on the proposals from the Commission to limit access to information. Kevin Dunion, the Scottish Information Commissioner, was there and gave evidence. The most interesting thing he said was that when he ruled that all MSP's expenses had to be publicly declared, the result was a 30% drop in the total expenses bill. He suggested the same might happen if the MEPs had to be open about their expenses.
"Do you think that if the Tory MEP leader Giles Chichester knew that voters would be able to hold him to account for his expenses that he would have fiddled £500,000 through his family firm?. Stinks doesn't it?Incidentally if you are wondering why LibDem and Labour MEPs are not attacking Chichester, the answer is obvious. They are all at it."


I will say two things:

1. Paying money into companies in which they have an interest as Chichester and Dover have allegedly done minimises their tax burden. This is a nice one since the tax scam only works because they receive money which has been paid out in tax by the good people of Europe.

2. Labour has commented. My colleague Richard Corbett, EPLP Deputy Leader, is now on the Guido Fawkes blog site. For those of you who may think we are all at it, I can assure that is not true. The misdemeanours of a few spoil it for the many.

Broadband Speed

Whichever way you look at it, broadband internet connections are a massive step forward. But not all broadband connections are created equal.

Broadband speeds are normally advertised as being "up to" a certain speed. However, that "up to" speed is only under ideal conditions. The speed of a broadband connection is often limited by your distance from the telephone exchange - the further away you live, the slower your connection will be. This can mean that people subscribe to an internet connection that turns out to be much slower than they expected.

Today Ofcom published a voluntary code for internet providers so that the advertised speed more accurately reflects the speed a customer could expect (based on their distance from the exchange).

But there is another problem which can limit broadband speeds - the capacity of the whole broadband network. Like the road network, broadband networks have a limited capacity. If everyone tries to use them at the same time, in the same place, they can grind to a halt.

Internet traffic has increased hugely in recent months. As people watch more television and use more complicated website online, the networks can get congested. The only solution is that internet providers must invest more in their network infrastructure to improve capacity.

Ultimately these costs will have to be passed on to the consumer. It's right that those who use the internet heavily should pay more than those who only do a little "light surfing".

I very much welcome Ofcom's new move. But in the future it might also be necessary to more accurately label the type of broadband connections that are sold.

People are using the internet for many different purposes. Someone who watches hours of TV online will need a more heavy duty internet connection than someone who just checks their emails a couple of times a week. It's only fair that the costs are fairly passed on to the heaviest users. We must make sure that customers are sold the broadband connection they need, not necessarily the most expensive product.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7437097.stm

Broadband in the City

Today the BBC reported that Londoners enjoy some of the fastest broadband speeds in the country. This is great news, but doesn't tell the whole story.

There are still too many people in the Capital who struggle to get high speed internet access because their buildings have not had the required cables installed. Other people in large apartment buildings also struggle to get satellite or cable television installed because of the costs of rewiring the building. I hope that new wireless services can give these people more options for receiving broadband and digital television.

With that in mind, I tabled a couple of amendments today to a report on the "Digital Dividend" (see my blog from last Thursday) which seek to make these new wireless services more likely and offer the consumer more choice.

You can read the BBC's story here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7431336.stm

The iPlayer

In my last blog I wrote about the digital dividend and closing the so called 'digital divide'. Broadcasters are obviously keen to hang on to as much spectrum as possible for new channels or high definition TV. But some broadcasters are already investing in new ways of distributing their content - over the internet.

You may be interested in this article from the Guardian on how the BBC's iPlayer is changing the way we watch television.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/02/bbc.itv