More cash to help find missing kids
MISSING child alert systems are set to get a boost from new EU funding, says an East Midlands Euro MP.
Glenis Willmott has revealed that one million Euros has been made available for ways to improve the search for children who have disappeared.
“Up to 10 projects will benefit from this cash injection, including a missing child alert system which will immediately forward relevant details such as a photograph to all news media, border authorities and law enforcement agencies," she said.
“It is crucial we improve co-operation on abducted and disappeared children. It has been suggested that it was a lack of co-ordination and swift action which seriously damaged the chances of finding Madeleine McCann.
“According to the campaign group Parents and Abducted Children Together, on average one child goes missing every five minutes in the UK. And with free movement between 27 member states, children disappearing is inevitably becoming more and more of a cross-border issue."
The move by the European Commission is supported by Kate and Gerry McCann, parents of Madeleine, who has been missing since May 3, 2007.
Electronic money gets a boost
ELECTRONIC money products could soon be used for making far more payments in the East Midlands, thanks to a new directive adopted by the European Parliament, driven by Conservative MEPs.
Local Tory MEP Roger Helmer says the measure seeks to make it easier for smaller operators to enter the market by reducing the amount of initial capital needed from €1 million to €350,000.
He said it would also enable providers to extend the outlets where e-payments can be made so that, for example, a company offering e-payments for transport services could also enable the consumer to purchase a coffee or newspaper.
Types of electronic money include online payment accounts, pre-paid mobile phone accounts, a top-up travel card or a gift voucher. In July 2007 e-money issuers in the EU carried €1,053 million, compared with €670 million in 2005.
Conservatives have also proposed measures to protect consumers using e-money, for example when trying to redeem money stored electronically.
Mr Helmer said: "Electronic money is growing at a pace for many smaller items such as transportation and food. However, with this directive we could see far more smaller businesses providing electronic money solutions and offering consumers more choice in how they pay for their goods.
"Entrepreneurs who will lead the payments revolution are currently shut out of the e-money market. By reducing the capital required to get started in e-money we can allow these entrepreneurs to find innovative new products.
"The potential benefits to the consumer could be vast, with payment cards and mobile phone handsets used as an alternative to a purse or wallet. Consumers will also be able to easily retrieve money they have stored.
"E-money institutions will be able to offer a wide range of payment services that are not viable at the moment."
Copyright Ashbourne News Online 2009
