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Blunkett refuses ETA talks on immigration
Page 6
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• Home Secretary David Blunkett has snubbed the Freight Transport Association's request for a meeting over the continuing immigration crisis.
The ETA had hoped for a September meeting with Blunkett and other interested parties including Eurotunnel and the ferry companies to put their case against the punitive £2,000-a-head fines for carry
ing stowaways and to discuss the security problems at Calais.
But in a letter to the association, Blunkett says: "I do not think my attendance at such a meeting will serve any useful purpose, but my officials will be available." He has advised the ETA to talk to Immigration Minister Geoff Rooker.
Geoff Dossetter, ETA head of external affairs, says: "We are absolutely amazed at this reaction from the Home Secretary to a group of organisations and associations which are quite clearly suffering the most enormous problems as a consequence of the situation at Calais."
As Commercial Motor was going to press Blunkett was due to meet with his French counterpart Daniel Valliant to discuss the immigration crisis.
• The French governme offer to allow British pokci search trucks on the Fre side of the tunnel has t rejected by Kent pollee un they receive additional fun( But Eurotunnel, which just appointed former Bri Army Commander General Roger Wheeler to advise security at the tunnel, has: It would welcome any help.