Unaccompanied Child Refugees

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 10:37 am on 9 February 2017.

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Photo of Amber Rudd Amber Rudd The Secretary of State for the Home Department 10:37, 9 February 2017

My hon. Friend is right that part of the proposal was to make sure that local authorities can support these children. We need to ensure that when the children arrive, it is not a feeling of “job done,” and that they are supported over the few years, however young or old they are, to make sure they have a good life here. We consulted with councils, and they came up with the number 400. I remind the House that that is not the total number that councils take in; we have an average of 3,000 unaccompanied minors arriving in addition to that, which councils generously step forward and support. My hon. Friend is right: we should all thank them very much for the work they do.