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News Release 13th March 2002CHANNEL TUNNEL BLOCK THREATENS MIDLAND JOBSMichael Fabricant is calling on the Government today to step up its negotiations with the French to reopen the Channel Tunnel for freight which has been closed by asylum seekers attempting to enter the United Kingdom. He says "Six million pounds has already been lost by our rail freight company EWS since the Channel Tunnel was closed to freight and EWS estimate that thousands of jobs will be lost as a consequence, many in the midlands. Although the British Government have been in negotiation with the French to increase policing of the French side of the Channel Tunnel, there are still just 15 gendarmes and 5 security staff in the area. Our requests have been ignored. "Meanwhile over 1700 EWS freight services have been cancelled and many midlands firms will have found it difficult to ship their goods to the continent as a consequence. If nothing is done, jobs in my constituency and elsewhere in the midlands will be lost. I will raise this with Ministers in Parliament as a matter of urgency today. "Tony Blair always claims he is at the heart of Europe influencing events. It's time he influences events in Calais", Michael Fabricant adds.
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