The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord (Rowan) Williams of Oystermouth has accused the UK Government of “foot-dragging” over plans to resettle minors from the Calais jungle camp, after 14 refugee children arrived in Britain at the beginning of the week.
He said that time was running out for the remaining children stranded in the treacherous camp, which is due to close imminently. Williams was among the faith leaders to meet the 14 children at a processing centre in Croydon, south London, upon their arrival in the UK.
The dismantling of the four square kilometre site is expected within weeks but the French have refused to name a final date. President François Hollande of France has said he wants it to be shut by the end of the year. It is believed the closure will rapidly follow any agreement regarding the fate of the 1,000 unaccompanied children there. Home Secretary Amber Rudd has refused to specify how many children will be repatriated but has said the Government is prioritising safeguarding children under the age of 12.
As many as 387 children are believed to have a legal right to come to the UK, according to a list drawn up with the help of Citizens UK, but critics have argued that the Home Office has been slow to process their cases.
Last week Cardinal Vincent Nichols, speaking at a prayer service in Westminster Abbey to mark the UK’s commitment to combat modern slavery, said the Government must do more to support vulnerable children in the camp. “I hope our Government and the Government of France will improve the effectiveness of asylum procedures for those who have a right to be here,” he said.
Yesterday, in a House of Lords debate Home Office minister Baroness Williams agreed to speed up the operation by bringing 100 more children by bus to Britain in the next four days. Williams said there were an estimated 1,300 children in the camp and said that 39 of several hundred believed to be eligible to come to the UK had been transferred to the UK this week.
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