more … ]]> The European Union is currently committed to ensuring that 10% of each Member State’s transport energy will come from biofuels by 2020. This originated as a well-intentioned attempt to combat climate change, but time has shown that using food for fuel can have devastating impacts on hunger and the environment. I’ve come to accept that it is time for a re-think.

In addition to concerns over their green credentials, biofuels are now recognised to be a key cause of hunger, affecting millions of people in developing countries. The World Bank, OECD, WTO, IFPRI, IMF, and five other UN agencies recommended that G20 governments abolish biofuel mandates, saying that “prices are substantially higher than they would be if no biofuels were produced”.

Concerns over the sustainability of biofuels are shared by major corporates too. Unilever, Nestle, and Carrefour all declared that “biofuels mandates should be evaluated regarding their impact on global food security priorities.”

Liberal Democrats, here and in the European Parliament, have sought to regulate for genuinely sustainable biofuels. The Department for Transport has frozen UK biofuel mandates under the leadership of Norman Baker, and Energy Secretary Ed Davey recently stated that “we’ve made a real mistake in the EU [on biofuels] and we’ve got to end that mistake, the sooner the better”.

The International Development Select Committee, chaired by Sir Malcolm Bruce MP, is leading an inquiry on food security and has also given priority to the issue of biofuels. Our DFID Minister Lynne Featherstone recently confirmed that the G8-linked event on hunger on 8 June will raise the issue. Nick Clegg himself has recognised the impact of land grabs, the majority of which result from the need to grow biofuels, and is championing this issue under the UK’s leadership of the G8 this year.

The last few years have seen many organisations, from ActionAid to Oxfam, calling for an end to European biofuels targets. At our spring conference in Brighton I spoke at an ActionAid event on this issue and subsequently raised it with the Department for International Development’s Secretary of State, Justine Greening on the floor of the House of Commons.

All this is taking place against a background of one in eight people going to bed hungry every night. That is why the IF campaign has been calling for an end to the use of Food for Fuel as part of its campaign against hunger.

The Prime Minister has this year pledged to “lead the way in the battle against hunger”, and it is Liberal Democrat ministers who are taking concrete action on the impact of biofuels.

It is striking that the amount of food burned as biofuels in the petrol tanks of our G8 combined nations could feed 441 million people according to ActionAid’s recent research. 6 million hectares in sub-Saharan Africa – that’s about half the area of England – are now under the control of European biofuel companies. And a disproportionate number of these projects are run by UK businesses. Many of these land ‘investments’ to grow biofuels are in countries with some of the highest levels of food insecurity, including Senegal, Zambia and Madagascar.

If you’d like to find out more, the IF campaign Food Not Fuel week shows the extent of support there is to put these policies right.

What policy better illustrates the law of unintended consequences? The case against increasing the biofuel mandate is now clear. We should continue to pursue reductions in the carbon emissions arising from transport – just not at the expense of those who continue to go hungry.

This article first appeared on Lib Dem Voice.

more … ]]> Job Title:             Parliamentary Assistant

Working For:     Duncan Hames MP (Chippenham)

Location:             London

Salary:                  In line with IPSA pay scales, 4 days per week, Monday-Thursday

 Job Details:       

 Duncan Hames, MP for Chippenham, is looking for an enthusiastic and hard-working Parliamentary Assistant to join his busy Westminster Office. In this permanent role you will assist Duncan with research, briefings and supporting constituents in his parliamentary work. Working closely with Duncan and his team, this challenging role offers the opportunity to support the work of a Liberal Democrat MP in Westminster.

Responsibilities will include:

• To carry out research into issues as required, ensuring the Member is made aware of key points.
• To assist the member in their parliamentary work, and communicating in response to constituents.

The successful candidate will have:

• Strong communication skills, especially in writing
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines
• A proven ability to work without supervision, showing initiative
• A meticulous attention to getting details right
• A practical understanding of how Parliament works
• Experience of researching subjects from scratch and identifying key points concisely

Upon appointment you will be required to comply with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, undertaken by the Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO). See www.w4mp.org/html/msvo/main.asp for further info.

Closing Date:     10am, Tuesday 16^th April 2013

Interview/Start Dates:

Interviews will be held in Westminster on Tuesday 23^rd April and Wednesday 24^th April 2013. Ideally the successful candidate will be available to start at the earliest available opportunity, but precise dates are negotiable.

How to apply:

Please send a CV and hand-written covering letter including details of your availability to Jane Crudge, Office of Duncan Hames MP, Avonbridge House, Bath Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2BB.

Website:             www.duncanhames.org.uk

W4MP:                http://www.w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.aspx?jobid=39624

Additional notes: A full job description is available from Jane Crudge by email on jane.crudge@parliament.uk.

________________________________________

Job Title:             Constituency Intern

Working For:     Duncan Hames MP (Chippenham)

Location:             Chippenham

Salary:                  National Living Wage, £7.45 p/hr, up to 40 hours p/wk, Fixed Term Contract

 Job Details:       

 Duncan Hames, MP for Chippenham, is looking for an enthusiastic and conscientious Intern to join his constituency office. This temporary 3 month post would suit someone wishing to gain experience in a busy office assisting Duncan with his local and policy casework.

Responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with and monitoring incoming telephone and visitor enquiries, including efficient data and file management
• Helping to respond to constituents on matters and policy issues raised with the Member, drafting correspondence and undertaking research to assist with this

The successful candidate will have:

• Strong communication skills, especially in writing
• An ability to work both independently and within a team
• A meticulous attention to detail
• A friendly and polite telephone manner
• Office IT skills
• Be able to work as part of a team

Upon appointment you will be required to comply with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, undertaken by the Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO). See www.w4mp.org/html/msvo/main.asp for further info.

Closing Date:     10am, Monday 22^nd April 2013

Interview/Start Dates:

Interviews will be held in Chippenham, the post commencing at the earliest available opportunity, but precise dates are negotiable.

How to apply:

Please send a CV and covering letter including details of your availability to Jane Crudge, Office of Duncan Hames MP, Avonbridge House, Bath Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2BB.

Website:             www.duncanhames.org.uk

W4MP:                http://www.w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.aspx?jobid=39625

Additional notes: A full job description is available from Jane Crudge by email on jane.crudge@parliament.uk.

more … ]]> Unemployment is an important matter, and it is important that our constituents should have jobs. Is the hon. Gentleman trying to tell us through those statistics that unemployment in his constituency was higher under the last Labour Government than it is today?

more … ]]> The regional growth fund has certainly attracted interest in Wiltshire, with bids from Melksham’s Cooper Tires and the Corsham Institute. Whether it brings sustainable energy solutions or exploits the digital economy, is this not a welcome diversification of Wiltshire’s economy?

more … ]]> Whatever further changes the Chancellor announces today, the payslips of ordinary working people will show a tax cut next month as a result of the personal allowance rise that the Liberal Democrats called for. It represents the largest single income tax change in this Parliament. What does this say about the priorities of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s coalition Government?

more … ]]> The risk posed by offenders can change, as was illustrated all too vividly by news reports from Chippenham last week. Under his proposals, how will the Secretary of State ensure that medium-risk offenders are assessed to enable them to receive attention from skilled and experienced probation officers should they become a higher risk to members of the public?

more … ]]> I know that the Minister will want to avoid unnecessary job losses in front-line local government services, so what guidance

will he give to local authorities on the retention of marriage registrars once the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill becomes law?

more … ]]> In how many of the homes in need of improved insulation does the Minister expect measures to be taken over the remainder of this Parliament?

more … ]]> Will the Government put the use of food for fuel on the agenda of the G8 food summit this June?

more … ]]> Will the Government put the use of food for fuel on the agenda of the G8 food summit this June?