answer text |
<p>The Government provides a number of schemes that offer a safe and legal route to
the UK for the most vulnerable refugees. In total, the UK provided protection to over
7,000 children in the year ending June 2019, and 39,500 since the start of 2010, and
in every year since 2016, the UK resettled more refugees from outside Europe than
any other EU member state. In the year ending June 2019 the UK received 3,496 unaccompanied
asylum-seeking children. In 2018, the UK received 15% of all asylum claims from unaccompanied
children in the EU, representing the third highest intake country.</p><p>We remain
absolutely committed to transferring the specified number of 480 unaccompanied children
under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Dubs Amendment) as soon as possible.
We have been making further progress with participating States, including Greece,
to transfer more eligible children to move closer to the commitment to transfer 480
children.</p><p>Until the UK leaves the EU, we remain fully committed to the timely
and efficient operation of the Dublin III Regulation including the provisions determining
responsibility for examining the claims of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
Officials continue to work closely with Member States, including partners in Greece,
to ensure the safe transfer of children under this Regulation.</p><p>Under Section
17 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, we are committed to seek to negotiate an
agreement with the EU allowing for the family re-union of unaccompanied asylum-seeking
children, where it is in their best interests, once we leave the EU. We are ready
to engage with the EU and with Member States on this matter and will endeavour to
negotiate such an agreement as soon as possible.</p>
|
|