The European Parliament runs a committee structure where all members have a seat on one main committee and a second substitute committee.

Vicky is a full member of the Industry, Research and Energy committee. Vicky explains: "This committee is vital to the interests of the East of England and the UK. We have world leading businesses particularly in innovative research. Energy supply and energy security are also key challenges for the years ahead. We cannot solve these problems in the UK by acting alone." In this committee Vicky has lead the European Parliament negotiations on safety of offshore Oil and Gas. She has also been the only UK MEP involved in negotiations to reform EU spending on Research and Innovation.

Vicky says: "It is a little known fact that there are more UK companies, scientists and universities involved in EU funded research programs than from any other country. This is a vast amount of money, but is also hugely bureaucratic. International co-operation in these areas can help researchers develop solutions to some of our great challenges like health and ageing, food, energy and water security and help fuel innovation and growth - but it should not compromise our own national investment decisions."

Vicky is also a substitute member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and is the Conservative Party's spokesman. As a substitute member she can attend and take part in all debates on this committee. She can also vote if other permanent members are unavailable. This committee is responsible for scrutinising and negotiating all banking and financial services regulation. Vicky explains "In the years running up to the credit-crunch there was clearly a breakdown in the regulation and supervision of banks and certain other financial institutions that allowed for such unpredicted risks to accumulate. It is vital that we learn the lessons from the past and put in place a stable regime for banking and financial services. These are also global industries and it is important that we work across Europe and other financial centres to make sure that the approach is universal. However it is also critical that we understand the importance of financial services in the whole economy. Businesses, large and small, need capital to grow and create jobs - we must make sure that European businesses and employees are not put at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing capital."

Conservatives in the European Parliament are part of a new political grouping the "European Conservative and Reformist Group." We believe in a United Europe of Sovereign States not a United States of Europe.

The ECR principles are outlined in the Prague declaration.