The Citizen (1/02/04) reported that Blunkett will be meeting the local MP for Morecombe about the tragic deaths of 19 Chinese cockle-pickers. The MP, Geraldine Smith had warned the Government 8 months ago about the gangmasters exploiting immigrant chinese workers in the dangerous sands. This tragedy should never have been allowed to happen. Geraldine Smith has tabled Early Day Motions calling on the Government to bring in stricter regulations and to introduce tighter laws to control 'gangmasters', some of whom currently treat illegal immigrant workers like slaves. These moves do not go far enough. We need a more thorough permit system with licences granted to just a few operators who would have expert knowledge of the bay and who could work with fisheries officers to monitor those working there. We also need a complete closure of the beds until such regulations are brought into place. It is too late, for those who perished last week but we must prevent any similar tragedies in future by bringing some kind of order and responsibility to the industry.

Carol Kambites, Gloucestershire Green Party.