Thank you for contacting me about asylum seekers and refugee resettlement.
The UK continues to be one of the world’s leading refugee resettlement states. As a country, between 2016 and 2019 we resettle more refugees than any other in Europe and are in the top five countries worldwide. Since 2015, the Government has resettled more than 25,000 vulnerable refugees in need of protection through our refugee resettlement schemes, with around half being children. These refugees are resettled directly from conflict zones (such as Syria) rather than from safe European countries such as Italy or France as the previous s67 Dubs amendment did. I believe that it is most important to prioritise those refugees in dangerous situations, not those already in Europe.
I welcome the fact that the Government already provides safe and legal routes for people needing protection or seeking to reunite with their families. In the year ending June 2020, over 6,320 refugee family reunion visas were issued to partners and children of those previously granted asylum or humanitarian protection in the UK. Over 29,000 family reunion visas have been issued in the last 5 years. From 1 January, these very effective and fair family reunion rules will also apply to relevant family members of UK refugees where the family member in an EU state, replacing the EU’s Dublin rules. Unless an alternative agreement can be reached with the EU in the meantime.
You may be pleased to hear that the Government has announced it will also conduct a review of safe and legal routes to the UK for asylum seekers, refugees and their families. I am aware that many feel a statutory commitment is necessary. I do therefore welcome the fact that the Government has made a statutory commitment to review safe and legal routes, including for family reunion of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The Government will also publicly consult on legal routes including on family reunion for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. In addition, Ministers will make a statement providing further detail of the review and consultation relating to legal routes before Parliament within three months of the Immigration Bill achieving Royal Assent. Ministers will also prepare a report on the outcome of the review, publish that report and present it before Parliament.
I welcome the fact the Home Office maintains regular dialogue with those involved in resettlement, including local authorities, Strategic Migration Partnerships and support providers. You may be pleased to hear that the UK’s resettlement schemes have been supported by over 300 local authorities. It is also the case that the Community Sponsorship Scheme allows community groups, charities and faith groups to support refugees directly. I will continue to push the Government to ensure Ministers work with all those involved in refugee resettlement across the country.
It is important that this is not rushed as plans to restart resettlement are dependent on a number of factors. These include the lifting of restrictions imposed by governments of host refugee countries, local authority and central government capacity and the recovery of the asylum system from the impact of COVID-19. It is good news that the Government is taking action, but I will continue to push Ministers to restart resettlement as soon as it is safe and practicable to do so.