Child Refugees in Europe Debate

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Department: Home Office

Child Refugees in Europe

Helen Whately Excerpts
Monday 25th January 2016

(8 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Helen Whately Portrait Helen Whately (Faversham and Mid Kent) (Con)
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As my right hon. Friend has mentioned, Kent is already looking after hundreds of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Kent has asked other councils to help to look after these children, but few have been forthcoming. We have to do a good job with the young people who are already here seeking our help, so as we rightly consider whether we can help more Syrian child refugees, can my hon. Friend assure me that he will press on with ensuring effective dispersal of the young asylum seekers already in the UK?

James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
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I can assure my hon. Friend that the Home Office is working closely with the Department for Education. I have the Minister for Children and Families on the Bench alongside me. To see that children are given the support they need in counties such as Kent, which are taking on a considerable burden, we are working with the Local Government Association and others, as well as maintaining that backstop provision in the Immigration Bill to ensure a fair allocation of young people in need of support.