Brian Simpson

Brian Simpson    (politician)
A member of the European Parliament

Brian Simpson (born 06 February 1953, Leigh, Lancashire) is a British MEP for North West from Labour Party.

Affiliations

• Chairman, Committee on Transport and Tourism
• Member, Conference of Committee Chairs
• Member, Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand
• Substitute, Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
• Substitute, Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community

Former Affiliations

• Member, Committee on Transport and Tourism
• Member, Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand
• Substitute, Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
• Substitute, Delegation for relations with South Africa

Record and Controversies

Declaration of Financial Interests

• 160 Shares in St Mirren Football Club Ltd, UK
• 17,000 Shares in Great Central Railway (Heritage), UK
• 22,000 Shares in West Somerset Railway (Heritage), UK
• 450 Shares in Llangollen Railway (Heritage), UK
• 2 Shares in Cotswold Steam Reservation (Heritage), UK
• 1 Share in 47401 Diesel Heritage Project, UK

• I employ my son as an accredited parliamentary assistant.

Former Declaration of Financial Interests

• 160 Shares in St Mirren Football Club Ltd, UK
• 17,000 Shares in Great Central Railway (Heritage), UK
• 22,000 Shares in West Somerset Railway (Heritage), UK
• 450 Shares in Llangollen Railway (Heritage), UK
• 2 Shares in Cotswold Steam Reservation (Heritage), UK
• 1 Share in 47401 Diesel Heritage Project, UK

• In May 2008 I visited Houston (USA) to take part in a series of meetings regarding the EU-US "open skies" air agreement. This trip was paid for by British Airways.
• On August 30th 2008 I attended the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final as the guest of the Rugby Football League. I have subsequently made a donation to the Rugby League Benevolent Fund to the value of the match ticket.
• On 4th October 2008 I attended the Super League Grand Final as guest of the Rugby Football League. I have subsequently made a donation to the Rugby League Benevolent Fund to the value of the match ticket.
• I employ 3 members of staff in my UK office and 2 members of staff in my Brussels office. All are contracted under UK employment laws and conform to the rules of the European Parliament. I also employ a political liason officer based in London who is line managed by the general secretary of the EPLP.
• Of my staff I employ my son on a full-time basis (salary range £20,000-£30,000) and my wife on a part time basis (salary range £10,000-£15,000)

Record of Parliamentary Votes

• Abstained form voting the directive on "establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy" (A5-0027/2000). The directive covers all water management aspects in order to achieve a 'good status' of all waters by 2015.
• Voted in favour of the directive on "national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants" (A5-0063/2000). The amendment allows setting less ambitious national emission ceilings for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), which would result in more damage to human health and the environment.
• Voted in favour of the Commission White Paper on "Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy" (A5-0356/2001). The amendment helps avoid the necessary precautionary approach towards some chemical substances that are not proven to be completely safe.
• Voted in favour of the directive on "waste electrical and electronic equipment" (A5-0100/2002). The amendment sets higher reuse and recycling rates for IT and telecommunication equipment. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.
• Voted in favour of the report on "Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network" (A5-0135/2002). The Trans-European Network of Transport (TEN-T) is a network of so-called 'transport corridors' through Europe. This amendment calls for a full Strategic Environmental Assessment of these transport corridors and calls on the Commission to improve methods for analysing the environmental and economic impact of the TEN-T.
• Voted in favour of the regulation concerning "traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms" (A5-0229/2002). The amendment allows customers the right to choose GM free food.
• Voted in favour of the report towards a "thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides" (A5-0061/2003). The amendment proposes to ban or severely restrict use of pesticides in areas around sources of drinking water and nature protected zones.
• Voted in favour of the directive on "environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage" (A5-0145/2003). According to the amendment, polluters have to pay for environmental clean-up, and it supports an EU-wide regime which makes polluters liable for the damage they cause to wildlife, water and land.
• Voted against the directive on restructuring the "Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity" (A5-0302/2003). The amendment aims at giving tax benefits to environmentally friendly sources of energy, which would make them cheaper and more competitive to conventional (more polluting) sources of energy. It also gives tax benefits to environmentally friendly uses of energy for transport, for instance trains. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.

Personal Information

Curriculum Vitae

• Certificate in Education (1974).
• Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (2005).
• Teacher of Physical Education, Liverpool (1974-1989).
• Director, North West Rail Campaign (2004-2006).
• Chair, Warrington South Constituency Labour Party (1986, 2004).
• Election agent, Warrington (since 2006).
• Councillor, Merseyside County Council (1981-1986).
• Deputy Chair, Liverpool Airport (1981-1986).
• Councillor, Warrington Borough Council (1987-1991).
• Deputy Chair of Finance (1987-1989).
• Chair, Performance and Policy Review. PPS to the Deputy Prime Minister (1997 - 2004).
• Member of the European Parliament (1989-2004): Chairman of the Delegation for relations with Switzerland, Iceland and Norway; Vice-Chairman of the Delegation for relations with the Republics of Yugoslavia; PSE coordinator for transport, tourism and regional policy (1990-2004).
• Vice-President, Heritage Railway Association (since 1990).
• President of the Warrington, Halton and St Helens Branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (since 1990).
• Life Governor, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (since 1990).
• President, Golborne Cricket Club (since 1990).

Resources

• European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Brian Simpson, 09 January 2009, accessed 06 February 2009.
• European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Brian Simpson, 23 June 2009, accessed 03 November 2009.
• European Parliament, MEP Directory: Brian Simpson, accessed 06 February 2009.
• Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 06 February 2009.

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