Refugees (Family Reunion) (No.2) Bill

Martin Whitfield Excerpts

2nd reading: House of Commons
Friday 16th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow]

I could not reiterate my hon. Friend’s comments more strongly. Just last month, the charity I have been talking about announced that the Home Office had approved the resettling of a second refugee family in Taunton—and they will be very welcome. We must remember the lasting impact that welcoming vulnerable families into the UK may have on our national reputation. A letter from the father of the first refugee family resettled in Taunton from Kurdistan reminds us of this. In his letter, he thanks the “tender and loving” people of the UK and says:

“This beautiful kindness will remain with me until my end”.

That fully backs up what my hon. Friend just said.

[Martin Whitfield (East Lothian) (Lab)]

Does the hon. Lady not agree that she has succinctly and successfully described the benefit that families together can bring as they try to create a life in this country? All the Bill would do is extend the option for families to be together and to work in constituencies and bring economic benefit to us all.

[Rebecca Pow]

I think that the hon. Gentleman will find that I agree with much of what he says, and I believe that the Government have a large toolbox of regulations already in place and achieving that, but that is not to say that there is not always the opportunity to have a look and do more, although the Government are already on that case, and I hope they are taking notes today.