Refugee funding: Clive Betts, CLG Chair, presses Secretary of State
23 September 2015
Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Communities and Local Government Committee, has written to Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to press for clear answers on the issue of the Government's financial help to local authorities accommodating Syrian refugees.
Earlier this month, the Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to take 20,000 Syrians living in camps bordering Syria by 2020. At the CLG Committee's evidence session with Greg Clark MP on 15 September 2015, the Secretary of State confirmed Syrian refugees would be given at least a five-year period of stay in this country and seemed to suggest Government help with the extra costs faced by local authorities would run for at least the first five years.
On 16 September 2015, the day after the CLG Committee evidence session, the Home Secretary appeared to contradict this commitment by stating in the House of Commons that central government funding was guaranteed only for the first year.
Chair's comment
"The refugee crisis is an urgent problem and the Government needs to spell out far more clearly what support they are going to provide to local authorities who will bear the additional schooling, healthcare and housing costs. The Government has made a commitment to take in 20,000 Syrian refugees and Ministers should match this with a promise to cover the full costs incurred by local councils – not just for the first year – to deliver this national policy.
If the Government fails to make this funding commitment, the Government is in effect saying to communities: "Welcome refugees now, but you will pay the full cost in the future in cuts to your services for funding the refugees coming to your communities". As a country we have a responsibility to help refugees but the Government must avoid potential damage to community relations by failing to provide the necessary support to local authorities."
Further information
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