Syria: Refugees and Counterterrorism

Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Excerpts

Monday 7th September 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (LD)]

My Lords—

[Lord Boateng (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord Ashton of Hyde]

It is the turn of the Liberal Democrats.

[Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville]

My Lords, as we have already said, many local authorities up and down the country have been preparing contingency plans to assist them to make room for the refugees. Many of these local authorities have growing lists of residents who are in temporary accommodation but are nevertheless willing to help. All local authorities should be able to say how many refugees they will accept, and central government must say what it will do to make sure that the refugees get the funding needed. Will the noble Baroness say in what way the Syrian refugees are to be dispersed throughout the country and how their children are to be integrated into our schools and education system?

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

The discussions between central government and local government are only just starting, although there is already very much a partnership in place with those local authorities that have been giving assistance and refuge to those whom we have already helped over the last few years. I assure the noble Baroness that we will work with the local authorities and, as I say, adopt a partnership approach.