International

'An end must be put to speculation in foodstuffs. To that end the government must agree as soon as possible a binding code with Dutch banks and other financial institutions. Certainly banks which receive state aid must stop this trade in hunger immediately.’ So said SP Member of Parliament Henk van Gerven in today’s debate on food prices.

The SP’s team in the European Parliament has described the report on the rights of airline passengers as ‘an important step forward’. In the report, due to be adopted by the EP tomorrow, member states are called upon to act more vigorously against airlines which are careless of consumer protection, while the European Commission must act against member states which remain negligent. SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong: ‘Because passengers often don’t know what rights they have, airlines get away with a great deal. That’s why the rules on information and consumers’ rights are being tightened up. When you’re flying you need to know that there’s a right to a refund in the event of delays of more than three hours and that the price advertised has to be the actual price of a ticket. In addition there is as things stand a lack of clarity as to when airlines can claim force majeure or an “Act of God”. I would also expect enforcement of one’s rights to be made rather easier.’