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 Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and is the Conservative Party's spokesman. 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.

Vicky is a substitute member of the Industry, Research and Energy committee. 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. Vicky explains "this committee is vital to the interests of the East of England. 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." Within weeks of joining this committee Vicky was nominated as one of only 7 MEPS to lead Europe's thinking on the Energy in Buildings Directive - legislation that aims to help significantly reduce Europe's energy use in the decades to come.

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 principals are outlined in the Prague declaration.