| answer text |
<p>The UK is fully committed to transferring the specified number of 480 unaccompanied
children under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 as soon as possible</p><p>As
part of the Sandhurst Treaty, signed between the UK and France on 18 January 2018,
we committed to deploying a UK Liaison Officer to France by 1 April 2018 to facilitate
cooperation on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. We already have secondees based
in Italy and Greece working on transfers of unaccompanied children to the UK under
both the Dublin Regulation and section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.</p><p>However,
as set out in our published policy statement, it is for France, Greece and Italy to
refer potentially eligible children under section 67 of the Immigration Act as the
children are on their territory. The UK must operate within the national laws of our
partner countries.</p><p>In addition, after extensive discussion with France, Greece
and Italy, we have agreed to amend the eligibility date on an exceptional basis to
ensure we can transfer the circa. 260 remaining unaccompanied children and meet our
obligation under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016. The Government had previously
insisted on the previous eligibility date of 20 March 2016 to avoid establishing an
open-ended relocation scheme from Europe, as this would increase the pull factor that
puts children’s lives at risk.</p><p>The UK and France share a special relationship
and have a strong track record of cooperating with France to manage migration and
to protect our shared border. The primary responsibility for refugees and migrants
lies with the authorities of the country in which they are present. France has many
of the same international obligations towards those on its territory as the UK, and
President Macron has made clear that French authorities should behave in an exemplary
manner.</p>
|
|
