POVERTY LESSONS NEED TO BE LEARNED FROM REST OF EUROPE

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th Sep 2007

Soaring teenage pregnancies, the binge drinking culture and poverty problems can only be tackled if we learn the lessons from other European countries, West Midlands MEP Liz Lynne told the LibDem conference yesterday.

Liz, Vice President of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, followed Charles Kennedy in addressing a key debate at Brighton on the party's new anti-poverty policy. In her speech she urged delegates to back an amendment proposed by Solihull MP Lorely Burt calling for all employees to have the right to request flexible working hours.

Though welcoming the main thrust of the policy package to reduce poverty and inequality, and promote opportunity and social mobility, Liz Lynne said yesterday that we must recognise that 'social exclusion and poverty are not just a UK issue.'

She said: "These problems affect all Member States of the European Union. Surely we ought to be learning from each other. There needs to be more exchange of best practice between us and our European partners.

"I was asked to write the European Parliament report on Social Reality Stocktaking and Social Inclusion. In it I have tried to look at the key issues but while I was doing my research before writing it I was interested to know why some countries are succeeding on certain issues and others weren't.

"Why for instance does Britain rank behind Portugal, Hungary, Greece and the Czech Republic on poverty and lack of opportunities for children? The government should be finding out what they are doing differently and what we can learn from it.

"We have come up with excellent ideas but I would like to see a more European dimension.

"Take teenage drinking for instance, and binge drinking generally. What can we learn from other Member States. Does poverty encourage people to take solace in drink? If this is the case, why do some poorer Member States not have the same problems as us with binge drinking? We all know that excess drinking can lead to poverty, but is it the case the other way round?

"On homelessness, for instance, can we learn from Finland? They have introduced a holistic sustainable approach that has been incredibly effective in reducing the number of homeless people. Denmark meanwhile has brought in policies which challenge the norm by focusing more on improving the quality of life of long term rough sleepers, rather than having the sole aim of integrating them into mainstream society. I am not saying that this is necessarily the right way but we ought to find out more.

"In Belgium an initiative has been set up to train people who have experienced poverty to work with social workers, helping them to better understand the needs of the poor and how to develop their capacities.

"In the workplace we can also learn. Only 48% of UK organisations offer flexible working time to staff, compared to 90% in Germany, 94% in Sweden and 92% in Finland. For this reason I support Lorely Burt's amendment, for the right of employees to request this.

"Why do more teenage girls get pregnant in Britain than elsewhere in Europe? Research shows that teenage mums are less likely to finish education and get decent jobs. They are also more likely to become single parents and live in poverty. We have to address this and put pressure on the government on all these issues.

"As far as the minimum wage is concerned, although we still have a lower rate for younger workers than some countries, overall I believe many Member States can learn from us. Five EU countries do not even have a minimum wage.

"Although this policy is excellent in many ways, we must exchange best practice with our European partners and learn from each other. After all we are a pro-European party."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Liz Lynne is the author of a 2007 report for the European Parliament on Social Protection and Social Inclusion which amongst other things emphasises employment as a key safeguard against poverty and stresses the role of education and training in achieving it. It also notes the need for equal access to goods and services for all, as well as the importance of high quality health and social services, affordable childcare and affordable housing in avoiding child poverty and social exclusion.

The proposals agreed by conference today include a £1.5 billion Pupil Premium to fund education for children from deprived backgrounds, an overhaul of the benefits system and engaging the private and voluntary sectors to provide better back-to-work support. The plans also include reforming tax credits and the Child Support Agency to ensure that low income families receive greater support.

The motion passed with a large majority, with the amendment on the rights of employees to request flexible working hours and the option on extending the adult rate of minimum wage to all those over 16.