Letter: A threat to health and safety

Sir: Strange things do happen in the European Community. At a European Parliament Committee meeting in Barcelona this week, Bryan Cassidy, Conservative MEP for Dorset East and Hampshire West, asked Alfredo Pastor, Spanish Secretary of State for the Economy, for an assurance that the Spanish socialist government would not weaken protective health and safety legislation.

Mr Cassidy has not previously been well known for his defence of workers' rights. Nevertheless, his late conversion to the cause is most welcome.

Could I invite Mr Cassidy to say whether he is prepared to be equally vigorous on behalf of British workers when the Tory government plans to weaken domestic health and safety legislation are introduced.

Yours sincerely,

MEL READ

MEP for Leicester, Nuneaton

and North Warwickshire (Lab)

Leicester