NORTH Wiltshire’s MP James Gray has voiced his concerns for the safety of children in The Jungle in Calais, as the refugee camp begins to be cleared by French authorities.

During an urgent question to the Home Secretary in the House of Commons, he said: “There can be no doubting the Home Secretary’s compassion or her determination to do something about this appalling problem for up to 400 children who have a perfect right to come here.

“I congratulate the government on doing more this year than last year, as the numbers have gone up significantly.

“None the less, this is a major crisis, and the camp will be cleared within days.

“It appears that there has been huge bureaucratic confusion in France.

“Documents have been lost; apparently, there are only four French officials in the camp, which is poor.

“It is time for the British government to set up a taskforce, with British officials working with French officials, which should go to the camp, sort out these people, find out who they are, and bring them back.”

This statement in the Commons followed a recent open letter to the Home Secretary from a number of Conservative MPs, including Mr Gray, which read: “we must champion the role of the family in resolving this refugee crisis.

“Family reunion is the best tool we have for offering a legal and safe way to get unaccompanied children back into the arms of their family and out of the hands of the traffickers.

“We must ensure we do all we can to use the love and power of the family to keep children safe.”