Government secures enough local authority places to house 20,000 Syrian refugees

Enough local authority places to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next four years have now been secured, the Government has revealed.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said that 2,800 Syrians had arrived by the end of June and been settled in more than 100 council areas.

An extra £10 million has also been pledged to help refugees arriving via the vulnerable person resettlement scheme learn English, the Home Office said.

Ms Rudd said the initiative, launched a year ago, was on track. “Securing the 20,000 pledges within 12 months is testament to the immense goodwill and generosity of the British people and the effort and determination of local authorities across the UK,” she said.

“We are on track and delivering our commitment to help the most vulnerable Syrians displaced by the conflict.

“The hard work will continue throughout this Parliament as we provide those who have been traumatised and damaged by war with a safe environment and the chance to rebuild their lives.”

The additional funding for English language training will mean all adults arriving through the scheme will receive an extra 12 hours a week of tuition, for up to six months, the Home Office said.

The Local Government Association's asylum, refugee, and migration task force chairman, Councillor David Simmonds said: “We have previously said that we were confident in ensuring there were sufficient places to support the Government's pledge to resettle 20,000 people by 2020, and the focus must now be on ensuring families are matched to the right placements and that they arrive safely and are well supported.

“Councils have an excellent track record in welcoming asylum seeking and refugee children and their families for many years and continue to work hard to support the Syrian resettlement scheme, alongside all the other schemes in current operation. They have no say over when people will be allowed to enter the UK, but stand ready to help when they do.

“There are multiple schemes in operation for supporting refugees and there are also thousands of asylum seekers who are not housed by councils but who rely on council services.

“Councils will be helping to support some of the most vulnerable families fleeing Syria who will need ongoing support from health and social care services to cope with injuries, disabilities and to recover from the severe trauma they have experienced.”

PA