Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken to reduce the numbers of illegal migrants arriving in the UK from Calais.

Security of the UK border is a top priority. Basing UK immigration controls in France enables Border Force to stop illegal migrants before they reach our shores.

Since 2010, this Government has invested millions in strengthening the security of our border in Calais and at other key ports. We have bolstered physical security in Calais, upgraded technology and equipment and increased joint intelligence work with the French.

The Home Secretary and French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve recently reaffirmed their commitment to further joint action at Calais, including a £12 million contribution from the UK Government towards bolstering security and infrastructure.

The priority now is to implement the practical solutions that have been agreed. Work has started on installing the security fences we provided and should be completed over the coming weeks. This will build on the sustained UK support and investment in improving physical security and upgrading technology at Calais.

We are also working to deliver longer term solutions. This includes improving the infrastructure and flow of traffic at Calais in order to reduce the risk of queuing vehicles on the approach roads which are targeted by migrants.

But we recognise that the problem does not begin in Calais. That is why we are enhancing joint work with France and other European partners to clamp down on the organised crime groups behind people smuggling. This is in addition to broader work with European and International partners to address the wider problem of illegal migration, of which Calais is just one visible sign.