To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they are offering to unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the UK, who are presently in Calais, Dunkirk and elsewhere in France; and what plans they have to extend the cut-off date for children claiming asylum under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.
Answered on
22 February 2017
The UK has contributed significantly to hosting, supporting and protecting the most vulnerable children affected by the migration crisis. In the year ending September 2016, the UK granted asylum or another form of leave to over 8,000 children. In 2016, we transferred over 900 unaccompanied minors to the UK from Europe, including more than 750 from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance.
On February 8, the Government announced that we will transfer the specified number of 350 children to the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act. This includes the more than 200 children already transferred under section 67 from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance. This number has been agreed following consultation with local authorities on their capacity to accommodate and care for unaccompanied children. We will announce in due course the basis on which further children will be transferred from Europe to the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act to the specified number.
The primary responsibility for unaccompanied children in Europe lies with the State in which they are present. It is not possible for a child in France to claim asylum in the UK, and there is no application process under section 67 of the Immigration Act or the Dublin Regulation.
The UK has also established a £10 million Refugee Children’s Fund to support the needs of vulnerable refugee and migrant children arriving in Europe.