A service from mySociety A service from mySociety

TheyWorkForYou

Menu

<p>Response to the Refugee Crisis</p>

Part of 1. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:37 pm on 20 September 2016.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Bethan Sayed Bethan Sayed Plaid Cymru 1:37, 20 September 2016

First Minister, you’ve already mentioned the children, but there are, in fact, 200 children in the Calais area who are currently not being taken in by any Government, and also in Lebanon and Syria as well, extra to the 200. We’ve seen the horrific pictures on our screens over the summer, and, quite frankly, the fact that we’re not doing enough for those children is embarrassing, and they should not be in such a position of trauma or be left on their own to fend for their lives. I don’t buy into this fear-mongering that they choose to go to Calais, and that more will follow because of us trying to help those unaccompanied children.

Today, the world leaders are gathered in New York to discuss the refugee crisis. So, will you join with me in asking the UK Government to bring these 200 children to safety immediately? And I would ask also that you commit Wales to helping in this unprecedented crisis by taking our fair share of unaccompanied children from the camps in the region, as well as in Calais? And I’d appreciate you not telling us that it’s the UK Government’s responsibility; what are you going to do, First Minister?

Minister

Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.