§ Mr. Richard Allan accordingly presented a Bill to establish a Commission to inquire into the feasibility of a foreign exchange transactions tax; to provide for the Commission's remit and duration; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time on Friday 19 April, and to be printed [Bill 111].
4.30 pm§ Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will be aware that the channel tunnel is still closed. I do not know whether you are aware that many jobs are at risk, not only those of the 6,000 or more people employed by English, Welsh and Scottish Railways, but those of people in my constituency and other parts of the west midlands who use the channel tunnel as the link to supply parts and equipment to the continent. The tunnel has now been closed to freight for several days, and there are still only 15 gendarmes and five security officers in Calais trying to protect the compound against several hundred illegal asylum seekers who are trying to enter the United Kingdom.
I do not have to tell you, Mr. Speaker, while we are at it, that we are still failing to sell any beef to France. Given that the Prime Minister has said that we are now at the heart of Europe and that he has considerable influence with the French, I wonder whether he or anyone else has told you that—in addition to the very important statement on audit that we have heard today—he would like to make a statement on whether we can resume exports to the European Union through the channel tunnel.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have had no indication of such a statement being made.