Archived press release

Foe calls on agriculture minister to resign over conflicts of interest

11 May 1997

Friends of the Earth is calling on Dr John Cunningham MP to resign as the Minister of State for Agriculture over serious conflicts of interest which raise profound questions over his ability to carry out his regulatory duties as Minister effectively and impartially.

Friends of the Earth's Director, Charles Secrett, has written to the Prime Minister,Tony Blair (1], outlining the conflicts of interest which centre around duties the Minister must carry out with respect to the authorisation of radioactive waste discharges by the nuclear industry [21. Dr Cunningham, the MP for Copeland -which includes Sellafield - has had a long standing direct and indirect association with the nuclear industry in the UK and abroad, including:

.a well-documented history of active support for the nuclear industry including being a former President of the 'Friends of Sellafield Society';

his sponsorship as an MP by the GMB trade union, which has a considerable interest in the nuclear industry;

.receiving financial support for travel and accommodation from the nuclear industry for trips abroad.

Friends of the Earth is also concerned about Dr Cunningham's declared earnings as an advisor to Albright and Wilson (UK) Ltd and Hays Chemicals. Albright and Wilson are involved with the production of chemicals used in pesticides and the production of food additives. The Hays Chemicals group includes one of the leading manufacturers of flavourings for animal feeds.

Charles Secrett writes in his letter to the Prime Minister:

"We recognise that Dr Cunningam has not sought to hide from public scrutiny these association, payments and gifts. However, given his recent appointment, they now raise very serious issues of propriety and the ability to impartially carry out Ministerial duties in the public interest at a time when the nation as a whole is anxious to clean up politics and leave the era of sleaze behind."

The letter continues:

'As you know, Friends of the Earth has warmly welcomed and publicly applauded your Party's manifesto commitment to '"put concern for the environment at the heart of policy making, so that it is not an add-on extra, but informs the whole of governmen4 from housing and energy policy through to global warming and international agreements."...In order to ensure that your Party's important manifesto commitment is upheld throughout MAFF, and that the Minister is seen to be impartial and objective in all his rulings, we are convinced that it is necessary for Dr Cunningham to act honourably to avoid embarrassing your Governmen4 and the principled positions you have taken, and resign as Minister."

ENDS

Notes

[1] Charles Secrett wrote to the Prime Minister on Saturday 10 May. If not attached, a copy is available on request.

[2] British Nuclear Fuels has recently applied to the Environment Agency for permission to vary its existing authorisations to discharge radioactivity into the environment (sea and air) at its Sellafield nuclear plant in Dr Cunningham's constituency. As Minister, Dr Cunningham must exercise powers granted to him under the 1993 Radioactive Substances Act and the Environment Act (1995), in conjunction with the Secretary of State for the Environment to refuse or grant such an authorisation, subject to such limitations as they see fit. Under the 1995 Act the Minister shares other powers with the Secretary of State, namely to: give directions concerning discharge applications and authorisations; call in certain applications for his joint determination; and, in the case of nuclear sites, to determine the outcome of particular appeals against decisions of the Environment Agency.

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