Last week in brief

Last week I met with a representative from the East of England NFU to hear of the concerns being raised by local farmers about Common Agricultural Policy, as reforms will be debated in Brussels again this year. Suggestions to re-introduce "set aside" and compulsory crop rotation won't help food production or food security and, locally, would be a backwards step for biodiversity too. I am also meeting various environmental organisations who again have a keen interest in the outcome of these reforms.

I recently sent out a brochure on how to get financial and business advice to over 7,000 local businesses with between 4 and 10 employees across the East of England. I am always keen to hear feedback, and so I was pleasantly surprised with the number of responses I had to the questionnaire I included. I am working closely with business representatives to address the concerns raised - so thank you to those who replied with many helpful suggestions on simplifying public procurement, health and safety and employment rules.

Once again David Cameron was in Brussels last Monday, the first meeting of European leaders since the UK vetoed their new treaty. As MEPs work in different specialist committees they have a huge range of expertise. We discussed topics from keeping the UK out of future Eurozone bailouts now secured thanks to the PM's treaty veto, reforming the European Court of Human Rights, and the proposed EU and global reforms to banks.

When Cameron vetoed the treaty he said that it was to make sure that the UK can protect itself from the City, not to "protect the City" as some were saying. I agree there needs to be international, indeed global, agreement on new standards, but in many cases we in the UK want to go further than the current European proposals. We want international minimum standards not maximums. I'm busy working through the 800 page legal text drafting amendments and building alliances with colleagues from other countries like Sweden and the Netherlands.

New proposals for EU funding for research and innovation are critical to universities and companies across the East of England, more UK researchers participate in EU funded projects than from any other European country. It is a huge amount of money; 50 billion euros in the last 7 year program and potentially increasing to 80 billion euros for the next 7 years - it is one of the few areas where the UK gets back more from the EU budget than we contribute. Across East Anglia, scientists and companies have been giving suggestions for reform. In Finland last week I met scientists from four Nordic countries, they all gave me a similar message - so I hope to get some international support for our local arguments. I am keen to hear from any local small businesses who have experience of applying for loans or grants through the European Investment Bank "Eurostars" programme, so if that applied to you please email office@vickyford.org.

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