Helen Grant MP

Several constituents have contacted me regarding whether or not the UK should take-in 3,000 unaccompanied children from Europe who have fled wartorn countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

It is an emotive issue and, in the absence of all of the facts, it seems like a no-brainer they should come here. The law of unintended consequences is at large, however.

To accept these children could send a very dangerous invitation to thousands of other war-zone families to send their loved ones on a perilous journey, which they may not survive, or where they may be abducted for sex and slavery.

An estimated 10,000 children have already suffered such a fate.

In fact, the UK is doing more than any other country in Europe to help solve this crisis. Unaccompanied children in Calais, who have relatives in the UK, are being reunited with their families; we have committed £46m to help support refugees, including £10m specifically for children.

The fund will support family reunification. It will also be used to identify and help children in need, children at risk, set up a re-unification tracing database and provide counselling and legal advice services.

Additionally, the UK is deploying 75 experts to Greece to improve the reception screening and processing of newly arrived migrants. This will