On Friday 23rd September, Vicky Ford, MEP for the East of England, attended an informal lunch at the St Johns Innovation Centre, Cambridge, where she spoke at length about a variety of issues. The lunch was well attended by approximately 30 representatives from a variety of industries including technology, IT, leisure, finance and recruitment. The delegates came from right across the region, including Cambridge, Peterborough, Ely and Bury St Edmunds.
After a warm welcome from Linda Yeatman, Chair of the Conservative City Conservatives, Mrs Ford spoke about her role in the European Parliament, and particularly her work
on the Industry committee where she has been leading discussions on research and innovation funding in a bid to simplify the process and cut down on the bureaucracy associated with securing such funding for UK companies. Mrs Ford then took questions from the audience on issues including food safety, nuclear weapons, the Eurozone and global financial crisis and funding for research and development facilities in the Eastern region. Mrs Ford also led a lively discussion on localism and divesting power to local authorities.
Speaking after the event Mrs Ford said:
“Opportunities like this to meet with people across such a spectrum of different industries are invaluable. The feedback I received on the key issues that really matter to people here in the East of England, such as the problems faced when securing research funding, and the issues associated with peer review, were incredibly useful and in fact I have already had the opportunity to raise the need to look at the impartiality of the peer review process, in the European Parliament on Monday.”
For further information, photographs or quotes please contact Sarah Stamp, Press and
Communications Officer to Vicky Ford, on 07584 028671 or at communications@vickyford.org
