LGA responds to the latest refugee resettlement figures

"Councils have had 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 the current operation."


Responding to the Government announcement that the UK is more than half way towards meeting its commitment to resettle 20,000 refugees through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme by 2020, Cllr David Simmonds, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Asylum, Refugee and Migration Task Group, said:

“We have previously said that we were confident in ensuring that there would be sufficient pledges from councils to support the Government's aim to resettle 20,000 people by 2020.

“Councils’ focus has been on ensuring families are well supported. Councils, their partners and local communities continue to help some of the most vulnerable families fleeing Syria who need access to ongoing support from local services to help them recover from the trauma and injuries they may have and to settle into jobs and schools.

"Councils have had 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 the current operation.

“Clear links need to be made across all the programmes that resettle asylum seekers and refugee families and children to make sure there is enough funding for all new arrivals to build new lives in their new communities.”