My Lords, my noble friend Lord Dubs is abroad at the moment. He has asked me to move Amendment 70, to which I am also a signatory, on his behalf. The amendment, which seeks to amend the Immigration Act 2016, is comprehensive and self-explanatory. Noble Lords will be well aware that my noble friend recently convinced the former Prime Minister, David Cameron, that vulnerable young people, many from war-torn Syria, should be admitted to the UK. My noble friend recently met with the Children’s Minister, Edward Timpson,
the Immigration Minister, Robert Goodwill and the noble Baroness, Lady Williams—whom I am pleased to see on the Front Bench for the first time—to discuss the amendment to the Bill which he moved in Committee.
My noble friend Lord Dubs’s suggestions, based on his unrivalled experience in this field, were listened to by Ministers and some were incorporated in the Written Ministerial Statement on safeguarding issued on 1 November. It contained details of a new strategy which was much needed and most welcome. In many ways, the Statement met the proposals contained in Amendment 70; in others it exceeded them. For instance, there is to be an increase in the number of foster carers, as well as fresh proposals to fund supported lodgings for young people.
One critical issue that my noble friend Lord Dubs had raised with Ministers was additional financial support for local authorities that receive the vulnerable young people. Although the Statement stops short of promising a specific figure, the implication is clear in the Government’s commitment to,
“regularly review funding to support and care for unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children, working closely with the LGA and local authorities”.—[Official Report, Commons, 1/11/16; col. 29WS.]
Like my noble friend, I am prepared to accept the spirit in which that has been offered and we look forward to hearing details in the near future.
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The new strategy is due to be published by 1 May next year—a date taken from my noble friend Lord Dubs’s amendment. The fact that it happens to be International Labour Day means that it will not be allowed to pass unnoticed—certainly not by me, as it also happens to be my birthday. The Government are due credit for moving both quickly and decisively to meet the concerns inherent in Amendment 70 and the proposals that it contains. It is good that the Statement recognises the particular vulnerabilities of these children. It is a positive step that the devolved Administrations will be consulted, and on a quarterly basis. Of course, the Government will consult local authorities and the various Children’s Commissioners. The review of the 2014 statutory guidance is also to be welcomed. I also welcome the fact that Parliament will be updated on an annual basis and that regular updates on the number of unaccompanied child refugees transferred to the UK will be provided.
It is encouraging that the Government worked closely with the UNHCR, seeking its advice on how best to safeguard the children left so vulnerable by conflict, and that the advice has been incorporated in the strategy. Taken in the round, the support and sustenance provided to unaccompanied child refugees will be of real value, and will place this country on a much firmer footing and make us much better prepared to respond when humanitarian crises arise in the future. We look forward to the strategy being published. I beg to move.