Calais: Child Refugees

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Sharples

Tuesday 13th December 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, if a child is in local authority care, they will be looked after as if they were one of our own. As I said, the cost of that local authority care will be met. Regarding the other funding the noble Baroness referred to, I cannot speak for further budgetary rounds, but it is certainly being committed to for the moment.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

Can my noble friend say whether all these children have family here, or are they looking to be adopted?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

Children who meet the criteria under the Dublin regulation will have family here. Those who have come here under Section 67 of the Immigration Act will not necessarily have family and so will be unaccompanied.

National Identity Cards

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Sharples

Wednesday 16th November 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, the noble Lord mentioned a number of areas in which there is fraud and counterfeiting. I am sure that in terms of identity cards, it is no different in trying to obtain them fraudulently.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

Is my noble friend aware that I twice asked this Question of different Governments many years ago and received exactly the same Answer as was received today?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, I think that is probably because the Government have not changed their position on this subject.

Asylum Seekers

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Sharples

Tuesday 1st November 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The noble Baroness made a valid point the other day, as she does now. I take the opportunity to thank local authorities for their good will and their efforts to accommodate asylum-seeking children, many of whom have arrived in recent weeks. On funding, as part of the safeguarding strategy we have committed to regularly reviewing the funding for the support and care of unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children, working closely with the LGA and local authorities. We have increased funding from just over £34,500 to £41,000 a year for those aged up to 16. Those rates underpin the introduction of the national transfer scheme.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

How many languages are involved in the integration of refugees?

Calais: Refugee Children

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Sharples

Wednesday 7th September 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

As to whether I will go with the noble Baroness to Calais, I think that I might have to consult the department first. However, if it is allowable, I will certainly accompany her. I fully expect that the information I have been given on the number of reception centres is correct but I will double-check that and, if it is any different, I will let her know. There is some accommodation specifically for women and children at the Jules ferry centre and heated containers have been provided for up to 1,500 people. I also understand that alternative accommodation has been taken up by 5,000 people. However, I will look into the specific points that the noble Baroness makes about people not being able to get on to buses and having to queue at night.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

Will my noble friend tell the House whether there is concern that of pupils entering schools at the moment, 16% have English as a second language compared with only 6% a year ago?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

That is why the Government are providing £10 million to help these children learn English.

Allotments

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Sharples

Wednesday 3rd December 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Sharples]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage local authorities to provide more allotments.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)]

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for her enthusiasm and persistence in this area. It is for local authorities to provide allotments. Through the community rights, government has helped communities to protect allotments; for example, more than 20% of the first 50 neighbourhood plans promote allotments. I commend the work of organisations such as the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and the National Allotment Society, which promote allotments.

[Baroness Sharples (Con)]

Is my noble friend aware that a lot of young people with families are looking for allotments, which are not available to them? Is she further aware that one local planning authority has prevaricated for more than 19 years about providing a suitable area for potential allotment holders?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, it may help my noble friend to know that waiting lists have come down, from 57 people waiting for every 100 plots two years ago to 52 people waiting for every 100 plots—