Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what strategic estimates they are making of the likely growth in the number of political refugees, economic migrants and those displaced by conflict and climate change in the next five, 10, 20 and 50 years; and what plans they have to respond effectively to the political, social and economic consequences nationally and internationally.

The British Government conducts periodic strategic reviews of countries and thematic issues that affect UK interests and how we respond to them. Some of these global issues will generate medium and long term migrant flows, within and between regions around the World. These trends are extremely unpredictable and therefore difficult to forecast. The size and composition of migrant flows can also vary dramatically over time, given the large range of factors driving migration.

We do, however, seek to identify and address the root causes. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s long term security and prosperity agendas aim to help create the right conditions for growth, security and stability, and the Department for International Development’s developmental and humanitarian assistance help provide the stable conditions that allow people to remain in their homelands.

Furthermore, we have established a new, more strategic approach to work in conflict-affected states where the UK has key interests, with a £1 billion Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. It will help ensure our work in fragile or conflict-affected states supports the full range of UK objectives.