Angela Watkinson

Conservative Party | Upminster

EU Constitution

Angela Watkinson (Upminster): What assessment he has made of those sections of the draft EU constitution relating to external border controls.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Blunkett): I have not spoken yet and the hon. Gentleman says "splendid"!

There is no threat in the draft constitution that will go to the intergovernmental conference in October to the frontiers protocol secured at Amsterdam by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. We have strengthened our own borders by moving the immigration and security measures to the French coast, by closing down the routes through the Frethun and Coquelles depots and by securing better the route through the channel tunnel. Things are much more secure than they have ever been and that will remain the case.