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Pay Compensation For Calais Chaos - Harman

Harriet Harman has written to David Cameron demanding he ask the French for compensation for Britons affected by the chaos at Calais.

Labour's interim leader says the PM should be doing more to recoup the cost of the crisis to haulage firms.

They are estimated to be losing £700,000 a day as a result of delays.

Some lorries are reported to be waiting for days to cross the channel as a result of migrant activity and strikes by French dock workers.

Ms Harman writes: "There are also reports of other businesses having been affected, including in the fresh produce, pharmaceutical, tourism and hospitality industries, not to mention the self-employed and holidaymakers.

"It is wrong for UK businesses and families to face these costs given border security failures in France.

"Your discussions with the French Government should therefore include a request for compensation backed up by any diplomatic pressure that may become necessary. Compensation should cover all losses."

Labour points out that the French authorities previously paid compensation to UK hauliers as a result of damage caused during industrial action in 1996.

The Government has announced plans to send extra sniffer dogs and fencing to France to tackle the migrant crisis.

Mr Cameron has also confirmed that military land in England's South East will be used to park lorries and ease congestion.

David Cameron has warned the Calais migrant crisis will last "right across the summer" as he pledged the extra security measures yesterday.

The Prime Minister spoke to French President Francois Holland late on Friday, with the leaders committing to "continue working closely together to tackle the problems posed by illegal immigration".

Mr Cameron described attempts by migrants to break through fences and climb on to lorries as they try to enter the Channel Tunnel "unacceptable".

:: As the migrant crisis continues, Sky's Alex Crawford travels to the source of the problem: Watch People Smuggler - World's Most Wanted on Sunday at 9pm on Sky News. Also available on Catch Up.

But Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, said the measures are "not enough" to tackle the "out of control" crisis.

"They are just sticking plasters in terms of trying to resolve this problem," he told BBC News.

Kent Police said on Saturday morning that the M20 remained closed between junctions 8 and 9 for Operation Stack, but all other junctions had reopened.

The Government said laws including new powers to combat illegal working will be fast-tracked, while Britain and France plan to run flights to return migrants to their home countries.

Downing Street confirmed a new Immigration Bill, which includes powers to tackle illegal working and abuse of the asylum system, will be "sped up" and introduced as soon as Parliament returns.

A spokesman for No. 10 said after the phone call with Mr Hollande: "Both leaders agreed on the need to work with Eurotunnel to monitor and secure the area and for respective ministers to continue discussions over the coming days to implement additional measures that could further improve the situation on the ground."

:: Why The UK? What Asylum Seekers Get Here And In France

Ministers are working with officials in Kent to find space to park lorries and ease congestion on the M20, where Operation Stack is frequently having to be enforced due to disruption to ferry and Eurotunnel services.

Many businesses in Kent have also described how the clogged roads in their area have affected trade.

Sky's Lisa Holland has spoken to a 17-year-old migrant from Ethiopia who is among hundreds who have crossed from France in recent days, risking their lives to climb aboard trains and lorries heading to Britain.

Saddique Hussein said he made it to Britain on his second attempt to climb onto a train.