Child Refugees Urgent Question House of Commons

Urgent question. Eva Cooper. I would ask the home Secretary to m`ke a

statement on the child refugees in Europe. Thank you Mr Speaker. The

government is at the forefront of the international response to the

unprecedented migration flows into and across Europe. We want to stop

the perilous journey that mx ribs are making, including children, that

have had terrible consequences. For the majority of refugees of all

ages, the clear advice from experts on the ground is that protection in

said countries in their reghon of origin is the best way of kdeping

them safe, and crucially all allowing them to return homd and

rebuild their lives once thd conflict is over. That is why we are

providing more than ?1.1 billion in humanitarian aid to the Syrhan

crisis. It is also why we h`ve a resettlement scheme for the most

vulnerable Syrian refugees. Those in the most to me. 1000 arrived before

Christmas, around half of them are children. A further 19,000 refugees

will be resettled by the end of this Parliament, and many of thel will be

children too. Our resettlemdnt scheme is based on referrals from

the UNHCR. We already consider referrals of separated children as

orphans under the resettlemdnt scheme or the UNHCR suggests that

resettlement is in the best interest of the child. The UNHCR had a clear

view that it is generally bdtter for separated children and orph`ns

within the region to stay there They are more likely to be reunited

with family members, or to be taken into extended family networks. Last

week, the international devdlopment secretary announced an additional

?30 million for shelter, warm clothes, food, and medical supplies,

including for 27,000 childrdn and babies. This assistance will be

distributed to aid agencies including Unicef, UNHCR, thd Red

Cross, and the international organisation for migration. To

support vulnerable people, hncluding children on the move or str`nded in

Europe, or in the Balkans. We have heard calls for the UK to t`ke more

unaccompanied children from within the EU. The Prime Minister has

committed to looking again `t this issue, and it is currently tnder

review. Such a serious issud potentially affecting lives of so

many must be considered fully, and no action has been taken yet. The

government is clear that anx action to help and assist unaccomp`nied

minors must be in the best hnterest of the child, and it is right that

that is our primary concern. We take our responsibilities seriously, and

this issue is under careful consideration. When this is

completed, will update the house accordingly. I commend this

statement to the house. The aid for refugees, particularly children is

of course welcome. Save the children have estimated that there are 2 ,000

children who have arrived alone in Europe. Some of the loan, some have

been trafficked by gangs, pdrhaps into prostitution, slavery, or the

drugs trade. Some have been separated from parents or f`mily

along the way. Such is the ten-year-old whose case I hdard of

who was separated from his parents as the gang pushed them onto a

lorry. They do not know where he is. The government said it is looking at

save the children and that the cross party called for Britain to take

3000 alone child refugees. There has been no answer, and we hear rumours

that the government will only be looking at helping child refugees

from camps in the region. That is not enough. In Greece and in Italy,

and in the Balkans, the recdption centres and the children's `rms are

full, and children are disappearing. The Italian authorities esthmate

4000 children who were alond in Italy simply disappeared last year.

I met 11 and 12-year-olds in Calais for their old Philly macro `lone.

One volunteer looking after them, that is a similar age to my

children. We should especially be helping those who have a falily in

Britain who are desperate to care for them. Last week a tribunal ruled

that three teenagers and vulnerable adults should be able to st`y with

close relatives here while their asylum cases are heard rathdr than

being alone in France, becatse the franchise system and the Dublin

three agreements are not working for a loan refugee children. And to see

this judgement as another Reformation to the systems so that

it helps child refugees. Thd tribunal was unsuccessful, `

teenager from Afghanistan whose sister lives here. In unsuccessful

because he died, suffocated in a lorry a few weeks ago, taking crazy

risks because he did not waht for the lawyers. He is 15 years old and

that is what teenagers do. Lany of us participated in the Holocaust

Memorial day, and a Lord in the House of Lords was assayed hn the

Holocaust. He is now asking us to his amendment to back save the

children campaign to help a new generation of vulnerable chhldren.

Please, will the government agree before more children disappdar or

die? Please let us do our bht again to help child refugees. Thank you Mr

Speaker. I say to the right honourable Lady that this government

is taking a number of steps to assist child refugees, both in the

region and also with some of the specialist support that we `re

providing in countries like Greece and Italy to support the processing

of asylum claims. When we look at the situation in northern France and

in Calais, at how the government is providing support to the Frdnch in

terms of the identification of those who are victims of slavery `nd

trafficking, is a key part of the agreement that was reached last

August between the home secretary of the French Minister of the hnterior.

It is important to recognisd the point is that the honourabld lady

made around the role of trafficking, and those who are seeking to sell

false hope to put life directly at risk. It is quite terrific the way

in which traffickers will sdek to place refugees in appalling

conditions. Literally not c`ring whether they live or die. In that

context, it is notable that work by Euro poll has indicated that 90 --

19 who are coming to Europe had been trafficked into some form or another

who are involved in immigration crisis. The work that we ard taking

in assessing a task force is important in working with Etro poll

to confront and combat that heinous work of traffickers. On the issue of

reunion, the Dublin arrangelents are there. The honourable lady lentions

the court case from last wedk which was specific in relation to the four

individuals concerned. Whild we will look at the judgement that has not

yet been received to understand the core's decision, and to unddrstand

the reasons that were sent out for reaching the order that thex made

last week, it is important to recognised that it was the fact they

claim had to be made of a solid and France to ensure that the

reunification arrangements were operative under the Dublin

arrangements themselves. We will wait to see. In the context of save

the children were poor and their request to consider the 3000, as I

have said in the Prime Minister has had in his house, we are actively

considering that proposal and we will return it to the house when we

have concluded our investig`tion of the matter. I think it is ilportant

not to stretch the analogy too far. We need to remember that only two

children survived along with their families were killed. There are

clear parallels that we need to address. We need to remember the

enormous contribution of kindred transport made to this country by

distinguished doctors, numbdrs of both parties were saved by that

Please, the Prime Minister hs looking at this, and he is right to

try to keep children in the region. But, we are where we are. There are

children out there at risk, and I would urge the governments to look

carefully at this. It is thd 25th of January, a month we are at

celebrating the Christian fdstival of children, and I hope that that

spirit lingers beyond Boxing Day. My right honourable friend hs

obviously right to recall the Holocaust memorial day that we mark

on the 27th of January and darlier this afternoon I was at the home

office with our own recognition of that very important event. The

context of what happened thdn and how we need to ensure that the

lessons of the past are maintained today. I think our focus is clearly

on trying to assist the most in need children, the most in need of

refugees. Why we have taken the approach that we have of a

assistance of the vulnerabld persons relocation scheme, resettlelent

scheme. Because it is and at the issues of former ability, p`rt of

which is about children. Part of which is about orphans and hs very

much focused on those have suffered the most. Hear, hear!

The thought of any child alone in a foreign country is abhorrent to any

parent, but alone in dangerous conditions without food, warmth or

comfort or protection is genuinely terrifying. Sadly this is the

reality today for thousands of Syrian children and those fleeing

other conflicts. The truth hs that some of these frightened yotng souls

are on our own doorstep as ly right honourable friend, the Leaddr of the

Opposition, so for himself this weekend. No child should be left to

fend for themselves, whoever they are and wherever they are. Hear

hear! I have no doubt that when f`ced with

this, the vast majority of British people would see a moral duty to act

as the right honourable gentleman has just said. Can I start, Mr

Speaker, my congratulating ly right honourable friend in bringing this

question and welcoming the Minister's commitment to look

seriously at this issue? But can I press him on some of the pohnts made

by my right honourable friend. In particular, to look at children here

in Europe as well as those hn the camps. The government's polhcy today

only to take refugees from the region rather than those who have

crossed the sea, does he not accept that as this crisis develops, that

distinction is becoming harder to maintain? There are 26,000

unaccompanied children in Etrope today. They cannot, as the

government claims, be descrhbed as the fittest and the strongest. They

are instead highly vulnerable to trafficking, prostitution, `nd other

forms of abuse. They urgently need someone to reach out a hand. I

appreciate concerns that thhs could set president and

for families to send childrdn alone, but surely that can be done by

making clear this is an excdptional move and my work with the UNHCR and

others to identify children who are alone. This is the biggest to Syrian

crisis since the Second World War, but instead of playing our full

path, the Prime Minister has been recent weeks stomping around Europe

with his own list of demands. Does the Minister not accept that two

countries trying to deal with the enormity of this crisis, th`t might

make us look a little selfish and blinkered? By doing more to help our

partners in Europe, might not be Prime Minister build goodwill and

get a better hearing when it comes to his own renegotiation delands? As

others have said, this week we were on a member of the awful evdnt of

the Holocaust and the kingdom transport. As candour transport copy

now is time to look at thosd British heroes of and look at the course of

history in this. I think thhs country can be proud of the record

that we have maintained and the work that we are providing. And providing

aid and assistance to vulnerable people in the region, the ?0.1

billion that has been committed I would say to the right honotrable

gentleman, that we are workhng closely with the UNHCR about how we

are working to be resettlemdnt programme, but also in our

consideration of this issue are children, the UNHCR, and Unhcef have

also been very clear that the best way to help children is in the

region itself because that hs often where those connections frol family

are. He highlighted the isste of Europe, that I say to him that we

are acting in solidarity in Europe or the support that we are providing

their the European Asylum stpport office. The support that we are

providing to Frontex, in terms of the search and rescue operation And

to Europe and the activities in the Mediterranean to confront the people

traffickers and smugglers to really deal with this at the border. And

also working the on the borders of Europe in terms of source and

transit countries and getting that long-term stability and sectrity

that actually is at the fundamentals of all of this. I also say that we

have to be very careful in the sense that we take and not making an

already extraordinarily difficult situation even worse a Hear, hear!

We know that the people traffickers seek to exploit anything we say and

twist this in perverse manndr to try and put more lives at risk to

encourage more people to tr`vel Hear, hear!

That is why we are looking `t this issue very closely in terms of what

is in the best interest for the child to the. Tuesday that lore

lives are not being put at risk in this way. To see what how wd can

support activity. Also I've highlighted the support that we are

very directly given in Europe to provide assistant to childrdn and to

refugees in flights across Durope and the Balkans. I think th`t

combination of approach sets a clear record, clearly as I have indicated,

we continue to look at this issue very closely. Mr Tim Martin. Mr

Speaker, I don't think it hdlps to try and confuse this issue with the

EU. But notwithstanding the very considerable aid we have given to

his his late Syrians in the area, which is the right thing to do, I do

think there is a humanitari`n case to help these children in lhmbo and

very vulnerable to traffickdrs and so on. But given, this will be

fraught with problems. Given that we have a record high number of

children in the care system in this country already. What assessment has

he made of a capacity to be able to take them in and give them the

specialist support theory they will need in the absence of the network

they are used to? My right honourable friend makes an hmportant

point because when we look `t the figures for unaccompanied asylum

applications from asylum sedking children, last year there wdre 500.

And that is already putting strain on a number of local authorhties,

Kent is one in particular that has been bearing a lot of that burden.

We are working closely with local government and indeed he max be

aware that under the Immigr`tion Bill which is currently in the other

place, we are seeking to set out a mechanism where by that burden can

be more fairly attributed across local authority areas. Thank you Mr

Speaker. I associated myself with comments about Holocaust Melorial

Day. One of Scotland's great humanitarians and my honour`ble

friend has already quoted that I got to see ourselves as of the season.

looks? The proposal to take our fair looks? The proposal to take our fair

share of children from Europe has been around for months. So with the

government stopped prevaric`ting and naked decision more children

continue to die in the freezing cold of the European winter? Is the

government considering taking children from Europe and not just

from the camps? Can he say ` bit more about the support that is been

provided to European countrhes, to support these children will live on

an affordable and victims a crisis that they did not commit and create?

Mr Speaker, I have already hndicated additional funding that has been

committed in terms of support for those across and in Europe. And how

some of that money is being specifically provided to Unhcef for

example, to really look at ways in which we can best support children

within that overall approach. That I do underline the fact that Tnicef

the cells emphasised the importance of assessing the individual

children, their best interest before any actions are taking, nothng that

in these situations children who may appear to be unaccompanied `re in

fact supported by family melbers and others. And decisions about how they

are care for Jim be taken into account. -- should be taken into

account. No one doubts the `menity of the right honourable ladx, but

surely the government should balance natural motion with hard-he`ded

realism, that actually net ligration in this country has been far bigger

into this country into the last two years than any other. We ard at the

limit of what the liquid is that. Also we are spending more than the

whole of rest of Europe togdther in helping people in Syria. For every

child refugee that we take from a camp, we would have to take many

people who, as part of the family. I would urge the government to stick

to be humane and correct policy of spending money in the region and

helping money in the region and not listening to be opposition with this

daft policy of taking peopld from Dover and Calais. We want to see

that children who are affected by this appalling crisis are ghven help

and assistance at the earlidst, of the earliest opportunity. That is

why we have committed the ahd and support that we have in the region.

It is also why, if you look at Calais, how we have been giving

support to the French government on scene that claims can be made as

quickly and possible and how the French government set up 78 New

Zealanders away from Calais to help migrants make the claims as quickly

as possible -- 78 new centrds. That way we see people get help `t the

earliest chance. In 2015 last year, 300,000 child refugees entered

through Greece. 16,000 entered through Italy. The problem has been

that the external border of the EU and the countries that are `t the

external border are just not given the support that they need from the

EU. As a result, reception centres have not been opened up in places

like Greece. With the Minister tell us what has happened that the deal

that was made between the ET and Turkey, which would have provided

Turkey with the additional resources to try and help us deal with this

terrible crisis,? Mr Speaker, work is continuing in respect to Turkey,

and this government's commitment to providing funding in support of

that. The right honourable gentleman is right to highlight the issue of

the external border of countries like Greece and Italy. How this

country has provided more stpport and a solid processing and tonnes of

experts and any other country in the EU. -- asylum processing. That is

how we can support this exalple at the forefront of our work. Thank you

Mr Speaker. As my honourabld friend has said, Kent is already looking

after hundreds of unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Kent has

asked other councils to help, but few have been forthcoming. So as we

might reconsider, whether wd can help more Syrian child refugees

come my honourable friend assure me that he will press on with laking

sure that there is effectivd dispersal of the young asyltm

seekers already in the UK, because we have to be doing a good job with

the young people who are already here seeking our help. I can assure

my honourable friend that there is close work that is ongoing between

the home office and also thd Department for education. I had the

children's minister alongside me. Because it is to see that children

are given the support that they need. Equally in counties lhke Kent,

that are taking a considerable burden, that we are working with the

local government Association and others as well as maintaining

backstock revision with and in the Immigration Bill to make sure that

there is fair allocation for young people in need of support. Lay I

commend the Minister for his statement, about our

responsibilities to some of the most probable children. Might also make a

plea for the very boys in otr stage was used, who already have `lmost no

hope of getting a decent hole. To find social services under huge

pressure to meeting their ndeds and have almost no chance of getting a

school of their choice copy my past when the government is in f`ct

considering the needs and priorities of these children, considerhng they

are committed to bringing and 2 ,000 refugees, that any proper

concessions on this front is taken from that total of 20,000? H say, as

I've said to other honourable and right honourable members, that we

are closely considering the issue of children. I've already indicated

that of the 1000 at survived to be resettlement in before Christmas,

that around half of those wdre children. We are very conschous of

the support for local authorities. Obviously we help announce `n

additional funding to meet the needs under resettlement fee as two to

five. We were told that frol 10 ,000 people would be admitted to this

country each year. In fact, 320 000 people have been admitted jtst this

last year. If we admit another 20,000 people to this country over

the next five years, or 4000 per year, does that mean that 4000 are

not admitted from other parts of the world? I say to my honourable friend

that the vulnerable persons resettlement scheme, obviously, is

meeting I think our rightful obligations to respond to the crisis

that we see in Syria, the 20,00 number that we have outlined during

the course of this Parliament. Obviously we do have certain other

arrangements with the UNHCR, but I think it is about meeting that

commitment and responding to the crisis that we see before us.

Several robbers. Volunteers to have a talk over to Jesus juggling with

eight to limit -- Calais. Whether to high black-market substances to dope

the children, or revealed the family to the authorities in transht across

the Channel by crying in fe`r. Surely the government can bdtter

safeguard children, by also adopting proper selection and inflict mass

identification processes for family before they reached the UK to avoid

these terrible situations. The way to do that is to see that those

families actually claim asylum in France. There have been arotnd, I

think around 2800 claims of asylum in and around Calais. The French

government have put in placd that the upgrades as I've indicated, to

see that people be moved aw`y to Calais and better reception centres

-- the arrangements I've indicated. Does identify some of the f`mily

initiatives that the honour`ble Lady has highlighted. Does the Mhnister

agree that many members of this house had suggested that we rescue

unaccompanied minors from of the European union County needs and

bring them to pretend that other EU cup countries. What is the danger

that this will reappear and human rights lawyers in this country

insist that they have a right to join them in the UK because they

have their right family lifd. I say to my honourable friend that we need

to consider these issues very carefully. Because what is `t the

forefront of my mind is not seeing or children being put at risk and

putting their lives at risk. Frank Lee, that is what the peopld

smugglers and traffickers whll do. And why we need to act with such

great care to make sure that we don't make the situation evdn worse

than it is. Thank you Mr Spdaker. I wholeheartedly support by s`ying...

I will ask about the dignitx of I will ask about the dignitx of

children asylum seekers and their families. Well aware of thehr time

is expressed about this brings. My honourable friend stigmatizhng

asylum seekers by forcing them to wear the red bands, but I h`ve also

short notices, evictions or lack of female housing workers and `sylum

seekers being forced to sign documents before seeing properties.

I was told by the home office that a manager may enter an individuals

bedroom without consent. Will be investigate this and find ott what

is Ackley is going on to thd treatment of these honourable

individuals? Hear, hear! I think if we were playing cricket,

which we are not, the honourable gentleman's bar would be a little

wide of the wicked. I'm surd the Minister is dexterous enough to be

able to deal with it, sensitively. I will certainly try to do so, Mr

Speaker. As I indicated the House in response to the urgent question I

had last week, I do expect high standards from all contractors,

including that there is no hssues of stigma attached to those under their

care. If there is evidence to suggest that this is not thd case,

it will be treated with the utmost seriousness. Mr Gavin Robinson.

Thank you Mr Speaker. Can I apologise for my vocal fray, I will

be able to struggle through the question hopefully. I find

e-government's response to this entire crisis as a them at times

being frustratingly slow. And appearing to lack compassion. But I

do support it and I do think you are on the right track and I was

bolstered at the weekend by the view which believes that UK government is

approaching this in the right frame. In supporting the reconsideration,

government is now taking on refugee children, particularly, could the

Minister give a timescale for that? Bearing in mind that a knee jerk

reaction for selfish clinic`l game, which is an based in the best

interest of the child, would be wholly frivolous and

counterproductive? I think ht is right that we do take some time to

consider this issue properlx. Because of the issue begot

honourable judgement highlights about what is in the best interest

of the children. And indeed the advice we have had from the best way

to help children in the reghon. I would say on his issue of compassion

with the aid and investment that we have given in the region, the focus

on education to ensure that children in the region have hope, absolutely

has that sense of compassion behind it. It has been structured hn that

way. Thank you Mr Speaker. @s the primary educator, my heart was

broken on Thursday seeing the conditions of the children hn the

camp at the jungle in Calais, no matter what side of the argtment you

are on. And a round table wd understand that there are 200 or 300

families with many children who probably had the right to rdmain in

the UK, but they do not know their legal rights. Danny minister commit

to putting a legal resource into that camp to help those famhlies,

and folly the traffickers, because they have the right to come herein

referred lights? Hear, hear I say ultimately, these are matters

for the French government. We have committed resourcing in terls of

what actually happens in thdir own country. And the arrangements there.

But I do underline this isste of claiming asylum in France, to see

that assistance is provided at the earliest opportunity. That hs what

we have committed with the French government, to support them in the

activity. For example we have provided funding to assist them and

creating the perception centres outside of Calais, to see that

people are able to travel away from the area and to get the support that

they need. Mr Andrews Larter. Thank you Mr Speaker. Will be govdrnment

-- when will the government decide to support the amendment? When I was

in the Calais capital and the 2 st of December... Trying to look after

some of the unaccompanied children, by the time I encountered them at

Westminster in January, the three-year-old I encountered was

that. Mr Speaker, this Wedndsday will be a suitable date for the

Minister to make up his mind to let the children and? I say to the

honourable gentleman that the appropriate aim to do is to consider

the issues of the best interest of the child, to get the furthdr input

from the UNHCR and others, because of the risk of making the shtuation

worse. Of actually the risk of seeing that more children ptt their

lives on the line by making those perilous journeys across thd

Mediterranean. That is at the forefront of our minds and that is

why we will consider it in that way. Thank you Mr Speaker. At thd heart

of the modern slavery at, and splitting victims of exploitation

and trafficking first -- and putting victims first. I wonder that in this

case it is quite clear that unaccompanied children are the most

vulnerable victims of traffhcking. Danny minister say exactly what is

happening to identify these very vulnerable children that have been

trafficked and are at risk of exploitation and taking a ddcision

to get them to this country? I say to the honourable Lady, that is part

of the joint declaration th`t was signed last August, we are providing

a specific financial assist`nce to fund a project aimed at the most

vulnerable people. In and around Calais. That aims to increase

observations and accounts to identify vulnerable migrants, to

provide medical help and protection where required and to put in place a

system to transfer them, brhskly, to places of safety and ensure that

they are offered the appropriate advice and support from the French

system. Thank you Mr Speaker. Can I ask the Minister not to listen to

the Member for Gainsborough, with his separation of rationality and he

motioned over this issue. The member just laid out a fact and we are

merely responded, but the Mdmber for Gainsborough has no monopolx on

rationality here. Will be rdcall that almost one year ago today on

the 29th of January,... Orddr! I'm sorry the honourable lady is asking

a question and she is speakhng to a member who is courteously lhstening,

and there is conversation t`king place between two other members who

think what they have to say to each other is more important than what

the honourable lady has to say to the House. Your remarks can wait

another time. We are discussing a very serious matter. Your thoughts

have been heard and that's here others'. Ms., please feel free to

start again and go to the qtestion. This is important and courtdous

attentiveness is important `s well. Thank you Mr Speaker. I will not

detain the House again with my treaties on rationality. But I will

just say that we are merely talking about the fact copy it is the fact

that two years ago in his place on the 29th of January, 2014, the

government refused our calls to join the UNHCR scheme for resettlement of

refugees and it took a bravd media in our country to change thdir

minds. So can I simply say to the Minister, don't leave it too long

again. Open our doors, now. Minister. I say to the honotrable

lady that the focus of this government is providing the most it

portends a port to be vulnerable and portends a port to be vulnerable and

that is why we have established the scheme -- most important support.

That's why we are providing aid and assistance in the region because it

is about hoping the most nulber of people possible. We do that most

effectively in those areas `nd indeed by some additional ftnding

that I have outlined to the House this afternoon. But I do sax, in all

honesty we are considering the issue carefully. We get it right rather

than running to any specific timetable because of issues that are

involved as we are talking `bout children. Thank you Mr Speaker. This

is of course an extreme isste and our hearts go out to the chhldren in

need and the jungle and Cal`is. But only need to be very careful about

confusing the clear message of UK's eight effort come in mainly that it

is in children's effort to remain in the region where UK aid is `vailable

and be hundreds of million of pounds, and that not put thdm into

the crutches of evil traffickers who frankly do not care if they live or

die. Hear, hear! I think my honourable friend has

made his point very concisely and very well. It is at risk of the

exportation that people traffickers that we do have at the forefront of

our minds. And equally the way that social media is being played into

this. To self also an false opportunity in putting lives at

risk. Thank you Mr Speaker. I would like to think the colleagues from

seven different political p`rties, including the conservative party,

who signed a joint letter to the Prime Minister on this very subject,

and indeed signed by the right honourable lady, the Member for

Pontifex. We welcome the fact that the government are still considering

this. We invite them to do so with a greater degree of urgency. Hf it is

in fact 3000 children that the government are considering, I hope

that they would not suggest that that is something that should happen

over a period of five years, because if it is than some of those children

will be at risk of freezing to death for the next four years or falling

into the hands of traffickers in. I say to the honourable gentldman that

we are providing assistance to refugees across Europe and hn the

Balkans as I've indicated from the additional ?30 million that the

deputy secretary outlined l`st week. We do need to take care to dnsure

that we are not making the situation worse, that we are putting the best

interest of children at the forefront of our mind and I might as

I've already indicated under the resettlement scheme, around half of

those who have arrived alre`dy our children.