My Lords, Amendment 116 is in my name. I thank my noble friends Lord Shinkwin, Lady Stroud and Lady Helic for their support. We propose a workable, sensible and impactful solution for the Government to meet their stated objective, as set out in Explanatory Notes,
“to enhance resettlement routes to continue to provide pathways for refugees to be granted protection in the UK.”
Introducing a carefully designed, long-term global resettlement scheme with a numerical target will have the effect of meaningfully expanding safe routes for the world’s most vulnerable refugees.
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Last week, as I am sure noble Lords have already acknowledged, we commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day. That included reflecting on Britain’s role in admitting Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, and the success, as is well known here, of the Kindertransport, together with other initiatives implemented at the time. It is interesting to observe that today there is wide acceptance that the refugees back then were genuine: no one would deny that Jewish people faced an existential threat. They desperately needed safety, and the UK helped to bring them to safety. Of course, at the time, the questions of whether, and how many, refugees should be allowed into the UK were not without controversy. Decisions were not straightforward, but hindsight does wonders for perspective. Today, we look back on their plight in sympathy; we avow to have learned from history, but I regret to say that attitudes have not altogether moved on.
The Government have repeatedly stated that people in need of protection should come to the UK via organised, safe routes. These safe routes, however, are not always accessible for most people. The UK, of course, has a very sound record when it comes to responding to urgent crises. It did it very well for Syrians, with a world-leading scheme that transformed the lives of 20,000 people fleeing conflict. We did it too for Bosnians, when I was proud to be the Minister responsible for that scheme. We are doing it for Afghans. While the commitment to provide 5,000 resettlement
places for Afghan refugees in 2021 through the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme was most welcome, the scheme was restricted to one geographical area.
My amendment proposes to include these numbers in a global scheme that is flexible and responsive, and offers the Home Office the time and space to plan capacity to deliver it properly. Our EU partners have resettled some 81,000 refugees since 2015, despite the disruptions caused by Covid-19.
I would like to say that creating more safe routes will, for a start, help make proper distinctions between economic migrants and asylum seekers, and between those who are legal and those who are not. This was debated earlier today by a number of noble Lords. Unfashionable though it is to commit to numbers, it is the only way to make resettlement viable. A resettlement target, as in my amendment, of 10,000 people per year is eminently achievable.
It is not just about helping more vulnerable people. A target will also ensure that the Government are accountable and will enable local authorities to plan ahead. It will allow the Home Office to present projected costs to HM Treasury as part of the spending review cycle. A target is a practical solution that will give the UK clarity, certainty and control.
Some might ask why 10,000 is an appropriate target. Why not double that or half of that? My response is that it is a good starting figure and a reasonable place to begin. In fact, a resettlement target of 10,000 a year would amount to around five families being accommodated for every local authority in the UK or around 15 refugees for each parliamentary constituency. This is a moderate and sensible proposition that is eminently achievable with the right approach.