Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the Refugee Rights Data Project report Twelve Months On about the situation for displaced people in northern France; and what steps she is taking to fulfil her obligation to protect vulnerable child refugees.

The Government has noted the recent report by the Refugee Rights Data Project. However, the primary responsibility for children in France lies with the French authorities. France has many of the same international obligations towards those on its territory as the UK, and the French Government has made clear its commitment to provide unaccompanied children with appropriate accommodation and support. It is vital that children who are in Calais claim asylum or otherwise seek support from the French authorities rather than risking their lives by attempting to enter the UK illegally.

We welcome the opening of four new ‘Welcome Centres’ in France, which were opened over three months ago, in Haut de France (the region covering Calais, Coquelles and Dunkirk ports). Those assessed or declared to be a child, can be transferred to the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking children centres in Northern France: St Omer and Boulogne. However, the asylum application needs to be physically lodged in Lille. There is regular transportation to UASC centre in Boulogne.

We are fully committed to transferring the specified number of 480 unaccompanied children from Europe under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016. A number of children have arrived from France under section 67 in recent weeks and transfers are ongoing. More eligible children will be transferred from Europe under the scheme in due course.

This is in addition to our commitments under the Dublin III Regulation which allows unaccompanied children who have claimed asylum in another Member State to be transferred here to have their asylum claim assessed if they have a qualifying family member legally present in the UK and transfer would be in their best interests. We continue to work closely with France, other EU Member States and partners to ensure the timely and efficient operation of the Dublin III Regulation, including through regular dialogue and meetings.