Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, said:
“I welcome this renewed LGA commitment to ensure councils across England take responsibility for supporting these vulnerable children and young people, who have been through terrible ordeals. During my visit to the Calais camp I was made aware of a large number of unaccompanied children who may be entitled to come to the UK because they have a close relative here. The French authorities need to process these applications with the utmost urgency so that families can be reunited and children can be taken out of the camp to safety. I would also like to see governments across Europe fulfil their commitments to protecting children on the move and am in contact with colleagues across the continent to push for this to happen.”