The Anglo-French agreement to shut the centre near Calais has already seen it closed to any new asylum seekers who arrive in Northern France.

It is scheduled to be completely shut by April.

Today's meeting will continue the process begun over the summer when the Home Secretary David Blunkett went to France to meet Monsieur Sarkozy, his opposite number.

During a visit to Calais in September they made the joint announcement about the timetable for the closure of the camp, which now holds over 1800 people.

These people will all have to have their claims for asylum processed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

It is thought that as well as meeting Mr Blunkett, Monsieur Sarkozy will also have talks with the Prime Minister.