Syrian Resettlement Programme inquiry
Closed
What the inquiry looked at
“The programme to resettle vulnerable Syrian refugees in the UK was successfully expanded at speed in order to reach an interim target to resettle 1,000 people by Christmas 2015, according to a recent report by the National Audit Office , but the programme team will need to resettle more people each quarter than they have done so far in order to meet the overall target to resettle 20,000 people by May 2020. The programme team has secured enough indicative pledges from local authorities to meet the target, but it is essential that these pledges materialise into firm offers of support. The programme is only open to Syrian refugees registered in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt and Turkey. The NAO found that in achieving the target to resettle 1,000 Syrian refugees by Christmas 2015 there was good partnership working across central and local government, strong working relationships with international partners and the goodwill and determination of all organisations involved. While local authorities have worked hard to provide resettlement places, they have not however always understood central government’s expectations of them after the first year of the programme. National Audit Office report The National Audit Office report found that there was no estimate of the total cost of the programme to the UK. Costs fall to different central government departments and participating local authorities. Most of the costs of each refugee’s first year in the UK are covered by the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget. This changes in the second year, after which costs for health and education fall to the relevant department, as they do for all citizens. Based on departments' assumptions about the characteristics of those entering the programme, the services or level of support they will require and unit costs, the NAO estimates the programme could cost the UK up to £1,112 million to the end of 2019–20 and up to £1,734 million over its lifetime.”
The committee's words, from the inquiry page on parliament.uk ↗.
What it found
The Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement programme (the programme) has performed well so far, providing support to some of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees. We commend the Home Office (the Department) and the other government departments, local authorities and delivery partners involved for their efforts and their achievements so far. After a concerted effort to resettle 1,000 refugees before Christmas 2015, the programme team sensibly took a step back in early 2016 to redesign a more sustainable programme. However, meeting the overall target, to resettle 20,000 of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees in the UK by May 2020, remains a significant challenge.
Local authorities’ participation in the programme is voluntary and the success of the programme will depend on their statements of good intention translating into firm offers of places. The number of refugees in the programme is small compared to the total number of people local authorities support. But some local authorities are confused about what exactly it is they are expected to provide to refugees and have also expressed concerns about what programme funds will cover and what they will need to pay for out of their other budgets. Some refugees are uncertain about what they are entitled to, and what is expected of them, as part of the programme. It is not yet clear whether survivors of torture or violence are getting the specialist help they need to be able to come to terms with their experiences. While progress so far is certainly encouraging, it is essential that these issues are addressed to ensure the success of the programme in the long-term.
What the government said
No government response is linked to this report.
How the inquiry ran
Each dot is a dated item listed on this page, from the inquiry's opening on 17 October 2016 to its close on 4 January 2018.
- Oral evidence 7 Nov 2016
- Report 13 Jan 2017
- Correspondence 13 Sep 2017
What it recommended
The committee's recommendations are not listed here yet. Read them in 34th Report - The Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement programme ↗ on parliament.uk.
Evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1
- 7 Nov 2016No witnesses recordedparliament.uk ↗