Exact date when a UK cap on refugee numbers comes into force
A cap on the number of refugees coming to Britain legally moved a step closer under plans unveiled today.
The Home Office wants to set an annual number for people who can come to the UK through safe and legal routes. The measure was included in the Government’s Illegal Migration Act and ministers today said they would begin talks with councils over how many should be allowed to come.
The Home Office said the cap will be voted on by MPs and launch in January 2025. However, the move will have no impact on stemming the numbers of migrants arriving in Britain after crossing the Channel in small boats.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said: “The unacceptable number of people making illegal, dangerous and wholly unnecessary small boat crossings is placing an immense strain on housing and services across the UK. "As part of the Illegal Migration Act to stop the boats, we will bring in a cap on our safe and legal routes informed by the capacity of local authorities. This will ensure that we do not take more refugees than our public services and communities can cope with and that the refugees we do decide to take can be properly supported and integrated."
But Local Government Association chairman Shaun Davies said: “We have raised concerns about councils being asked to commit to numbers of arrivals or propose a cap. It might be difficult for councils to predict potential arrival numbers across both asylum and resettlement - and therefore their capacity to support new arrivals and the additional housing needed. Their local communities may also have differing views on and capacity to support new resettlement routes. It comes as combined pressures from current asylum and resettlement schemes are already growing on councils.”
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The Government is desperate to slash the £7million-a-day bill for housing migrants - including some refugees who have arrived legally - in temporary accommodation such as hotels.
The Home Office said local authorities “will be consulted on plans to determine an annual cap on the number of refugees resettled in the UK each year, based on the UK’s capacity to accommodate and support people coming to the UK via safe and legal routes, as government continues work to deliver its plan to stop the boats”.
It added: “Local authorities play an essential role in helping to resettle refugees and ensure they have the best start to rebuild their lives in the UK, from providing housing, help and access to education and job support. However, the UK’s ability to welcome people through safe and legal routes has been impacted by the unsustainable rise in illegal crossings which has put insurmountable pressure on local public services and housing, in turn not only impacting communities but also the number of people the UK is able to provide protection to and the level of support offered to refugees.
“With a clearer picture of the UK’s capacity to welcome refugees, through the cap, the Government will be able to redouble efforts to help more people from all over the world to come through safe and legal routes and ensure that commitments made by councils can be met now and in the future. In turn, this will create a more sustainable and well-managed system that is fairer and prioritises both local communities and refugees.
The Illegal Migration Act included measures for a cap on the maximum number of people to come to the UK each year via safe and legal routes. It would not include the Ukraine visa schemes, the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), the Hong Kong British National (overseas) route or the Mandate Scheme.
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