Blair push for Sangatte solution

The future of the Sangatte refugee centre will move up the political agenda this week as Tony Blair holds talks with French President Jacques Chirac.

The Prime Minister will meet M Chirac for a "private dinner" in Paris on Wednesday, Downing Street said.

Mr Blair's spokesman confirmed talks would include the immigration crisis and the future of Sangatte, ahead of a European Union summit in Seville this week. Home Secretary David Blunkett will also meet his French opposite number.

Mr Blunkett said: "I welcome the new government's determination to tackle the situation in northern France, and I have invited the new interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, to London to start finding solutions to the problems of illegal immigration facing both our countries."

Last month it emerged that Britain had offered the interim French administration a deal which would see us accept a proportion of the 1,500 refugees now at the camp in return for its closure. Talks stalled ahead of France's weekend elections.