Michael Fabricant questioned the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, yesterday on
the Channel Tunnel blockade and the threat to West Midland jobs. Tony
Blair was in the House of Commons making a statement following the Barcelona
European Union Summit. Michael told the Prime Minister that thousands of
jobs are under threat in the West Midlands as France continues to do nothing
about the closure of the Channel Tunnel to British exports. He asked
whether this had been discussed with the President of France. The text of
Michael’s question and the Prime Minister’s answer follows (taken from
Hansard).

Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): Is the Prime Minister aware of the logjam
in the West Midlands region because manufacturers are unable to export to
the EU through the channel tunnel? He will be aware that despite all the
negotiations between the British Government and the French, there are still
only 15 gendarmes and five security men guarding the Calais port. What steps
have the Government taken while formulating the Barcelona treaty to ensure
the permanent reopening of the channel tunnel for freight? May I remind the
Prime Minister, when he says that Britain is in there shaping Europe’s
future, that the west midlands happens to be in Europe too?

The Prime Minister: This is a serious issue and of course we raised it
with France at the summit. It is important that, over the next few days and
weeks, the French authorities take proper measures to ensure that the exit
route is secure. There is no doubt that the responsibility primarily rests
with them. That point has been made repeatedly and will be made again.

But Michael Fabricant says "But for all the talking with the French, the
Prime Minister claimed months ago that they would listen to him and
reinforce Calais Port to stop asylum seekers breaking through. He also
claimed that Staffordshire beef farmers would once again be able to export
British beef to France. But the French still maintain their ban on all
British beef imports. I fear that Tony Blair is weak in standing up for
our interests in Europe and tries to compensate in military adventures
abroad".