Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which Minister in which Department has principal responsibility for (a) refugees outside and (b) asylum seekers inside the UK.

I am responsible for the policy and operations related to asylum seekers and refugees inside the UK.

The primary responsibilty for refugees outside the UK rests with the host country within which they are residing. UNHCR is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office and Department for International Development work closely on matters affecting refugees outside the UK. UNHCR received a total of £168m from the Department for International Development during 2015/16. The UK has pledged £2.3 billion in humanitarian aid to Syria and neighbouring countries to further support vulnerable people and refugees. We are also providing £70 million in response to the Mediterranean migration crisis, and delivering a number of resettlement schemes.