Nick's views on issues people have asked about

CLIMATE CHANGE BILL - update

The Climate Change Bill took a very long time coming and has been keenly debated in Parliament over the past year. I am pleased to say that hard campaigning by Lib Dems, Friends of the Earth and the public has strengthened the Bill in important respects.

EQUITABLE LIFE policy-holders

Many North Devon constituents have contacted me having lost money in Equitable Life. I have campaigned in recent years for investors to be compensated because of the shortcomings in the regulation of Equitable Life.

PRESCRIPTION CHARGES for long-term conditions

Patients with certain long-term conditions qualify for free prescriptions. The list has not been updated since 1968 and needs an urgent review. Research has found that 800,000 people are going without vital medication because they cannot afford their prescriptions.

DEVON UNITARY COUNCIL proposal

My starting point is a pre-disposition in favour of unitary councils. But I would have preferred to see Devon divided into four councils. My overriding concern about the proposed Devon unitary is its sheer immensity. Unless solemn undertakings are made to establish meaningful devolution, the proposal cannot be supported.

GM CROPS

We should not entirely reject the potential of Genetically Modified crops to help feed people in developing countries, but I oppose commercial growing of GM crops until we are sure they are environmentally safe.

SUPERMARKETS' growing power

Supermarkets hold enormous power. This supermarket revolution has undoubtedly brought many benefits. Yet as the grocery market consolidates more and more, the death of high streets and rural communities has been accelerated by supermarket dominance.