Refugees: Resettlement
UIN 73797, tabled on 12 November 2021
Tim Farron
Westmorland and Lonsdale
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding was allocated to the UK Resettlement Scheme for (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22.
Kevin Foster
The UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) was announced in 2019 and was due to launch in April 2020. However, due to the pandemic and the associated resettlement pause (between March 2020 and December 2020), the scheme launched in March 2021 following the completion of Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme.
The overall funding package for UKRS includes a year one tariff of £8,520 per refugee resettled, for direct local authority costs. The package also includes additional support for educational and medical needs.
The Government also provides additional ESOL funding to enhance the English language skills of adults to improve their resettlement and integration experience and employability. Funding for years two-five is also allocated on a tariff basis, tapering from £5,000 per refugee in year two, to £1,000 per refugee in year five. Additionally, there is an exceptional cases fund to assist the most vulnerable refugees.
Overall, this is a substantial level of funding which enables local authorities to support the vulnerable refugees they resettle as they rebuild their lives in safe and secure surroundings, among supportive communities in the UK.