§ Baroness Howe of Idlicoteasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the reasons for not taking up the offer by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help resolve the problems arising from the presence of United Kingdom asylum seekers at the Sangatte centre in France. [HL5288]
§ Lord FilkinThe Government have not rejected any offer to help. Both we and the French Government welcome the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offer of assistance, and the Home Secretary agreed with French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, on 12 July that the two governments would involve the UNHCR in work to prepare for the closure of the Sangatte centre.