Letter to PM
Dear Prime Minister,
Thank you for the
reply of 6 March 2017 to my letter about the resettling of unaccompanied child
refugees in the UK. I have also received a reply from Robert Goodwill MP via my
M.P Steve Reed.
I find the response to
be very disappointing. The Motion before the House on 7th March
stated that only 8 children were transferred under the Dublin III regulation
last year and none under the Dubs scheme.” Limiting the number to 350 under the
Dubs scheme in the face of Dethe enormous demand is simply astonishing.
Have you forgotten your
excellent work in the Sancta Marta group
and the appalling evidence of human trafficking? Steve Reed states correctly
that “these children are vulnerable to human traffickers, defenceless and in
need of help”.
This week I heard Lord
Alf Dubs speak at St Mary at Hill at the invitation of the Speaker’s chaplain.
She rightly stressed that we must all do that we can to help. It was very clear
that the audience supported Lord Dubs and want him to carry on his excellent
work. Public opinion remains behind him in my view.
Add to this the
appalling gassing of Syrian children and the recent racial attack on a refugee
in Croydon and it is obvious that the Government must send a clear message that
migrants and especially unaccompanied children are welcome. Of course there
will be costs and the voluntary sector can do much to help.
The point I made in my
original letter about local councils being willing to take these children and
being left unconsulted still stands. Robert Goodwill in his letter of 8 Feb
states that “there is a commitment to resettle 20,000 Syrians to the UK by the
end of this parliament. So far over 4,400 have arrived in the UK, around half
of whom are children”. Why only 4,400? Why is it taking so long with a war in
progress? Why only 350 unaccompanied children?
This response is
simply not good enough. We are a nation of migrants and have a proud record of
opening our doors. Canada and Sweden have done far more than we have. I urge
you to review this policy.
Yours sincerely
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