British government makes new announcements

Following President Macron’s visit to the UK, the British government has made several announcements:

A renewed pledge to bring the remaining 260 children to the UK required to meet previous obligations under the Dubs amendment. Together with the 220 children already transferred, this will bring the total to 480 children. However, it has been confirmed that there will be no further increase to this number.

A fund of £3.6m will be allocated to working with France on projects that support genuine claims through the Dublin family reunification process. We understand this will significantly reduce the current disproportionate amount of time it takes to reunite a child refugee in France with their family here in the UK, which is great news. It is also intended that those with no prospect of transferring to the UK be informed of their options.

The two governments have committed to a strengthening of cooperation on operation of the Dublin Regulation, under which asylum-seekers are compelled to apply for asylum in the first member state in which they land. This will include shorter timescales for decisions and for transfers.

www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-01-19/HCWS415/