Mr Michael Cashman, Labour MEP for the W Midlands, says he will do whatever he can to protect the derogationMr Michael Cashman, Labour MEP for the West Midlands, told MBM:“I am in total agreement with the points you have made and I fully supportthe UK Government’s application to extend the current arrangement. “Please find attached a copy of a press release which I issued earlier onthis year on this very subject. Representing the West Midlands Region I amall too aware that our inland waterways play a major role in the area’sleisure and tourist industry. In recent years they have enjoyed a new lease of life as major part of the west Midland’s tourist industry. “Removing this exemption could hit the West Midlands leisure industry hard.