Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the Government response to the consultation Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments; and what the timetable is for implementing the conclusions of that response.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
We made a clear manifesto commitment to act on the issue of unauthorised encampments and I remain determined to ensure police have the powers they need.
I intend to publish our response to the consultation and to bring forward legislation later this session.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps (a) Aberconwy and (b) the UK can take to provide additional support for refugees through (i) the National Transfer Scheme and (ii) other measures.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are grateful to over 110 local authorities who have participated in the voluntary National Transfer Scheme. Through this scheme in excess of 1,000 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) have been transferred to other local authorities, relieving pressure on areas who look after large numbers of UASC.
We have recently undertaken an informal consultation with local authorities on proposals to improve the NTS and are carefully considering the responses to this.
We are also grateful to the over 340 local authorities who have volunteered to resettle in excess of 25,000 vulnerable refugees under our schemes since 2015. If other local authorities wish to support these schemes, we would encourage local government officials to speak with their Strategic Migration Partnership for more information and guidance.
Many individuals, charities and community interest groups have also provided practical support for over 440 refugees through the UK's community sponsorship scheme, including providing accommodation and teaching English.
If members of the public would like to offer their support, either through donating goods, services or their time locally, they should visit the Help Refugees page at https://helprefugees.campaign.gov.uk/ where information about the types of support local authorities require can be found. The website also contains practical advice on becoming a community sponsor and signposts to refugee charities and voluntary organisations.