Mr President, I just wish to say that today this House has given a slap in the face to the taxpayers of Europe. There is no reason whatsoever to have two Strasbourg part-sessions in October. To hold twelve part-sessions in Strasbourg will cost the taxpayer well in excess of ECU 100 million in a single year. Over 20% of our budget is going into these part-sessions here, yet at the same time in Brussels we have the biggest building project in Europe which will we will now use for 12 days in a year - 12 whole days! This is an absolute scandal!

To top it all - this is what really annoys me - we have not even debated the issue. We have not had a debate on the issue, merely a vote. That is an absolute outrage! There is a mafia at work within this place - in the nicest sense of the word - that controls this agenda, and the ordinary Members never seem to get a chance to have their say on matters like this.

(Applause)