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MPs launch inquiry into increase in Channel migrant crossings MPs launch inquiry into increase in Channel migrant crossings
(about 16 hours later)
MPs have launched an inquiry into the increase in the number of people trying to enter the UK by using small boats to cross the English Channel. MPs have launched an inquiry into the rising number of people trying to enter the UK using small cross-Channel boats.
More than 1,000 migrants arrived on UK shores in this way in July. More than 1,000 migrants arrived on UK shores in this way in July, while 235 were detained this Thursday - the record for a single day.
The Commons home affairs committee will look at the role of criminal gangs play in facilitating these crossings, as well as the responses of UK and French authorities. The Commons home affairs committee will look into the criminal gangs who run crossings, the dangers passengers face and UK and French government actions.
Labour said ministers were "failing to get to grips with the crisis".Labour said ministers were "failing to get to grips with the crisis".
The committee will also assess the conditions migrants face in France, where they often stay in makeshift camps while they wait for boats to become available. The committee will assess the conditions migrants face in France - where they often stay in makeshift camps while they wait for boats - and the particular dangers to children who make the crossing unaccompanied.
Chris Philp, the minister for immigration compliance, said he met French deputy ambassador Francois Revardeaux on Wednesday. In a post on Twitter, he said the pair discussed "our collective mission to completely stop small boat crossings". Speaking to Sky News, Chancellor Rishi Sunak did not deny reports the Royal Navy could be used to patrol the English Channel for migrant boats.
The Home Office declined to provide any further details of the meeting, saying it was private. "I'm frustrated," he said. "Everyone is, which is why we've been working much more closely with the French government in recent time to improve our co-operation and intelligence-sharing to police crossings."
The remit of the committee's inquiry will also include the risk to migrants' lives from attempting the crossing in small vessels - and the response of UK authorities, in particular unaccompanied children. The number of people making the crossing in July was almost as high as the combined total for May and June, with migrants encouraged by good weather and calm seas.
The number of those making the crossing in July is almost as high as the combined total for May and June, with migrants encouraged to make the journey by good weather and calm seas. Natalie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover, Kent, tweeted that the "unacceptable situation" must be "brought to an end".
'Unacceptable'
As the increasing number of arriving migrants became apparent this week, local Kent MPs expressed their concerns.
Natalie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover, tweeted her view that the "unacceptable situation" must be "brought to an end".
Labour's Rosie Duffield, who represents Canterbury, said the numbers represented those "whose terror at making this most treacherous of crossings was still not as horrific a concept as staying in the place where they were".Labour's Rosie Duffield, who represents Canterbury, said the numbers represented those "whose terror at making this most treacherous of crossings was still not as horrific a concept as staying in the place where they were".
Previously, Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said the government suffered from a "lack of competence" over migrant crossings. Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds called the crisis was "deeply concerning".
He said the crisis was "deeply concerning".
The committee, chaired by Labour MP Yvette Cooper, has previously questioned Home Secretary Priti Patel on the issue, but will now conduct a full inquiry.The committee, chaired by Labour MP Yvette Cooper, has previously questioned Home Secretary Priti Patel on the issue, but will now conduct a full inquiry.