Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Twigg and Karen Bradley

Monday 11th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Karen Bradley]

I am proud of the support that this Government are giving to people in the camps and in the region, where we can support far more people for the same amount of money than if they arrived in Europe. We have a relocation policy for 20,000 Syrian refugees, but it is important that we help as many people as possible, and we can do that best in the region. We must not encourage people to get on those boats, because nearly a quarter of people do not get off at the other end and die in the process.

[Stephen Twigg (Liverpool, West Derby) (Lab/Co-op)]

Has the Minister had a chance to look at the report by the International Development Committee, which praises the work being done in the region, and urges the Government to reach a rapid decision on the proposal by Save the Children that we should take 3,000 children from Europe?

[Karen Bradley]

I thank the hon. Gentleman, who I know has considerable expertise in this area. As the Prime Minister said last week, we are looking at those proposals and will come back on that.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Twigg and Karen Bradley

Monday 16th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Karen Bradley]

My hon. Friend sums it up perfectly and I do not think that there is anything I can add.

[Stephen Twigg (Liverpool, West Derby) (Lab/Co-op)]

Merseyside police have done fantastic work over the past decade or so in tackling hate crime. Does the Minister understand that there is real concern that the likely impact of spending cuts in the spending review could make it a lot harder for Merseyside police to maintain that brilliant work?

[Karen Bradley]

I commend the work of Merseyside police, and police across the country. Hate crime has been coming down, and there has been increased reporting of it, which means that more victims are prepared to come forward. That is due to the excellent work of the police and the criminal justice system, and we should all congratulate them on that.