COST OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Early day motion 1732, tabled 23 June 2009 by Bob Spink (Independent). Signed by 33 members.

That this House notes with concern that the cost of the European Parliament's policy of dividing its work between Brussels and Strasbourg is estimated at over 200 million per year and creates 20,268 tonnes of additional carbon dioxide emissions; further notes that the European Parliament is the only parliamentary assembly in the world that has two seats; further notes that the Strasbourg seat stands empty for 300 days of the year; therefore calls on the Government to urge the European Council to amend the Treaty of Amsterdam to identify a single seat for the European Parliament thereby reducing the EU budget of 1,530 million and cutting carbon dioxide emissions.

Signatures by party: Labour 17, Liberal Democrat 7, DUP 4, Conservative 3, Independent 1, Scottish National Party 1.