Child Refugees: Calais Debate

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Department: Home Office

Child Refugees: Calais

Tim Loughton Excerpts
Monday 29th February 2016

(8 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
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The right hon. Lady should be aware that there is not just one person but a senior-level connection between officials in both Governments, so broader teams are working on these exchanges. If there is information to support a claim highlighting a close family connection under the Dublin III regulation, we will stand by our obligations.

Tim Loughton Portrait Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con)
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I strongly welcome the considerable efforts that the Government have made to keep children and families together close to places where many of the refugees come from, such as Syria. However, if 300 minors were living in a squalid camp in Dover, they would be taken into care and given a place of safety, and there would be an investigation into the adults responsible for getting them there, so why is that not happening in France?

James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
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I cannot comment on the operations of the French Government, but I can say that we stand ready to support them in joint efforts to see that children and other refugees are appropriately housed and supported. We are providing funding to identify vulnerable children and ensure that the necessary facilities are there. We have given and will continue to give the French Government that support.