Refugee Children Arrive In Scotland From France

13 November 2016, 08:14 | Updated: 13 November 2016, 08:20

A group of migrant children has arrived safely in Scotland following the demolition of the Calais camp known as the Jungle.

The Home Office said that a group of females aged between 15-17 who left a reception centre in France arrived safely at Edinburgh airport on Saturday November 13.

These ''vulnerable children'' were transferred to the UK under the care of Home Office staff, with the support of local authority staff.

The Home Office said that those children who have come in under the criteria for the Dubs amendment to the Immigration Act 2016, which requires the Government to give refuge to children stranded in Europe,.will be placed, where possible, directly into the care of local authorities.

It will also continue to transfer eligible children with family links in the UK, under the Dublin Regulation.

A Home Office spokesman said: ''We are continuing to work closely with the French Government and other partners to identify unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are eligible to come to Britain. As we have made clear, our focus is transferring these children as soon as possible and ensuring their safe arrival.

''After a brief pause during the clearance of the Calais camp, we can confirm the latest group of eligible unaccompanied minors has arrived in the UK.

''The Home Secretary informed Parliament last month that several hundred more children and young people will be brought to the UK in the coming weeks.''

So far more than 300 unaccompanied minors have been transferred to the UK.

The Home Secretary told Parliament last month that several hundred more children and young people will be brought to the UK in the coming days and weeks.

The Home Office would not comment on how many children arrived at Edinburgh Airport.

It intends to confirm the total number of Dublin and Dubs transfers at the end of the process, when all of the transfers have taken place.