As you may know, Lord Dubs is calling for the Government to relocate 3,000 children from Europe. The Government recognises that more could be done to respond to the continuing migration crisis and how best it can support the most vulnerable people affected by this appalling situation; I am glad that we are now taking further action. This includes the establishment of a new resettlement scheme focused on the children at risk in the Middle East and North Africa which is supported by the UNHCR and which will see up to 3,000 people relocated to this country over the next four years.
In Europe, the Department for International Development has committed £46 million to help support refugees and a £10 million fund specifically for the needs of children. This includes supporting reunification with family they may have been separated from and who are in other EU countries including the UK. Separately, 75 British experts are being deployed to Greece to support more effective reception screening and processing of newly arrived migrants which will also help identify children and see that they are given appropriate support and care at the earliest opportunity. Like everyone else, I wish we could help all of these migrants, and particularly all of the children, who have suffered so much. But I believe the best way of doing this is to continue to focus on how we can play the most effective role in an extremely difficult situation and not make matters even worse or lead to inadvertent consequences where people traffickers encourage more children to put their lives at risk by making the dangerous sea crossing to Europe.
By Patrick McLoughlin on April 29, 2016