Following the increasing debate and interest around refugee and asylum seeker support, I questioned Home Office ministers during the department’s oral questions session on the pressures being put onto local authorities in the South East.
Kent has long been on the frontline when it comes to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children arriving in the UK, with more than 3,000 arriving every year. This has resulted in the likes of Medway, Kent and Croydon supporting a hugely disproportionate number compared to the rest of the country.
It is positive that so many are calling for more to be done for the most vulnerable young people fleeing war and persecution, however it cannot be left for the South East to pick up the burden and bill alone. I therefore asked the Minister to outline what steps are being taken to ensure that local authorities across the country are helping counties such as Kent and sharing the burden of these children no matter how they have come into the UK.
The Minister rightfully acknowledged the burden placed on Kent, which currently has 400 more children than the 0.07% allocation, and that something needed to change. I was also assured that the Home Office will continue to encourage local authorities that say that they have spare spaces to participate in that scheme and take the pressure off areas across Kent, Medway and Croydon
Given the increasing pressures this matter has had on our local social care budgets, I will continue to engage ministers and colleagues on this issue in order to find the balance between fairness for councils and support for those who need it most.