Home Secretary ( MP): Global Britain has a proud record of helping those
fleeing persecution, oppression or tyranny from around the world.
In addition to providing £10 billion each year to support people
in need through overseas aid, the UK is a global leader in
refugee resettlement. Between 2016 and 2019 we resettled more
refugees from outside Europe than any EU member state.
In 2015, we committed to resettle 20,000 of the most vulnerable
refugees who fled the brutal conflict in Syria through the
Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS). This included
people requiring urgent medical treatment, survivors of violence
and torture, and women and children at risk.
Today we are delighted to be able to confirm that we have now met
that commitment. We have resettled 20,080 vulnerable refugees
across the UK since September 2015.
In total, this means across all Government-funded resettlement
schemes, more than 25,000 refugees have been resettled in the UK
over the past 6 years and around half of whom were children.
This achievement has been made possible thanks to the outstanding
work and dedication of many partners including non-governmental
organisations in the UK and international partners, community and
faith groups, local authorities, devolved administrations and
individual members of the public. I am truly grateful for this
collaborative effort.
Resettlement is vital to safely and legally provide a path to
settlement for vulnerable people fleeing persecution and it is
right that we continue to offer safe pathways for those in need
of protection. The launch of our new global UK Resettlement
Scheme will now build on the success of previous schemes and we
will continue our proud record of resettling refugees who need
our help from around the world.
We want refugees in the UK to have the freedom to succeed and
that means access to the tools they need to become fully
independent, provide for themselves and their families and the
ability to contribute and integrate into the economic and
cultural life of the UK.
That is why today I have also announced £14 million of funding to
help newly-granted refugees to integrate in the UK. The £14
million fund will pilot new approaches across the country to
support newly-granted refugees to learn English, move into work,
access housing and build links in their local communities.
Lessons learned from these pilots will inform future support
available to all refugees.
This Government continues to step forward to provide help to
those facing oppression or tyranny. This year we have also
introduced a new pathway to citizenship for British National
(Overseas) status holders and their family members who are facing
draconian new security laws in Hong Kong which may see an
estimated 320,000 people come to the UK over the next five years.
We have also enabled over 29,000 close relatives of refugees to
join them in the UK through refugee family reunion in the last
five years.
Looking ahead, as we reform the asylum system, Global Britain
will continue its proud tradition of providing safe haven to
those in need through safe and legal routes.
