This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34167271

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Migrant crisis: UK must do even more to help refugees - George Osborne Migrant crisis: UK aid budget will help fund refugees response - Osborne
(35 minutes later)
Britain "needs to do even more" to help refugees from Syria, Chancellor George Osborne has said, as he called for a "fundamental rethink" of how the UK uses its international aid budget. Money from the UK's international aid budget is to be used to help councils house refugees from Syria, Chancellor George Osborne has said.
Mr Osborne told the BBC money from the £12bn budget could be diverted to councils helping to house refugees. He told the BBC Britain "needs to do even more" to help refugees and said there should be a "fundamental rethink" of how the UK uses the £12bn budget.
The PM has said the UK will take in "thousands" more refugees from Syria. Mr Osborne said the UK would focus on refugees coming directly from Syria.
Mr Osborne would not give a number but said David Cameron would make a Commons statement on the issue on Monday. The prime minister will give details of the government's plan in a Commons statement on the issue on Monday.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr show, the chancellor also said ministers should make the argument for military action against Islamic State militants in Syria. David Cameron has previously said the UK will take in "thousands" more refugees from Syria. Mr Osborne would not give a number when questioned on the matter on the Andrew Marr show.
The chancellor also said ministers should make the argument for military action against Islamic State militants in Syria.
Drowned boyDrowned boy
European countries are dealing with a surge of people fleeing conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, particularly from Syria and Afghanistan, and abuses in Eritrea. European countries are dealing with a surge of people fleeing the Middle East and other regions, particularly from Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea.
In other developments:In other developments:
Mr Osborne said the UK would focus on helping refugees directly from Syria.
He said: "While helping people in desperate need, we should not encourage more families to make that desperately dangerous journey across the Mediterranean and so we think we should go directly to these refugee camps and help people and bring people from those camps to the United Kingdom."He said: "While helping people in desperate need, we should not encourage more families to make that desperately dangerous journey across the Mediterranean and so we think we should go directly to these refugee camps and help people and bring people from those camps to the United Kingdom."
What is the international aid budget?What is the international aid budget?
Mr Osborne said: "We need to make an assessment of what our public services and infrastructure can support. Mr Osborne said there would be "an assessment of what our public services and infrastructure can support".
"But let me say this, the foreign aid budget we have - and we've increased this foreign aid budget - can provide the support in the first year for these refugees, can help local councils with things like housing costs." He added: "But let me say this, the foreign aid budget we have - and we've increased this foreign aid budget - can provide the support in the first year for these refugees, can help local councils with things like housing costs."
There is no indication of how much extra spending from the aid budget will be provided as the government has not said how many more people it will accept.There is no indication of how much extra spending from the aid budget will be provided as the government has not said how many more people it will accept.
But Treasury sources told the BBC the "fundamental" rethink of the budget announced by the chancellor would make spending much more flexible.But Treasury sources told the BBC the "fundamental" rethink of the budget announced by the chancellor would make spending much more flexible.
The BBC's political correspondent Alan Soady says the idea of spending some of the international aid budget both abroad and within the UK may prove to be a controversial one.The BBC's political correspondent Alan Soady says the idea of spending some of the international aid budget both abroad and within the UK may prove to be a controversial one.
The UK spent £100m of its aid budget on asylum seekers in this country over the last financial year, the Treasury says.The UK spent £100m of its aid budget on asylum seekers in this country over the last financial year, the Treasury says.
Under Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) rules, money spent on the first year of an asylum seeker's stay can count as foreign aid.Under Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) rules, money spent on the first year of an asylum seeker's stay can count as foreign aid.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the government was working with UN agencies and NGOs on how to take in Syrian refugees directly from camps in the area.International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the government was working with UN agencies and NGOs on how to take in Syrian refugees directly from camps in the area.
She told Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 live that additional aid spending on the crisis would not come from cutting aid spending elsewhere, but from an increase in the overall foreign aid budget.She told Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 live that additional aid spending on the crisis would not come from cutting aid spending elsewhere, but from an increase in the overall foreign aid budget.
"As our economy grows that 0.7% gets bigger," she said."As our economy grows that 0.7% gets bigger," she said.
"We recognise because of unprecedented needs that this Syria crisis presents we need to respond and that's got to be how we prioritise that uplift as it goes on.""We recognise because of unprecedented needs that this Syria crisis presents we need to respond and that's got to be how we prioritise that uplift as it goes on."
How could the plan work?How could the plan work?
Mr Cameron's plan to take in thousands more refugees suggests he may expand the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme - although this has not been confirmed.Mr Cameron's plan to take in thousands more refugees suggests he may expand the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme - although this has not been confirmed.
Under VPR, 216 Syrians have been brought to the UK since March 2014.Under VPR, 216 Syrians have been brought to the UK since March 2014.
People arriving in the UK in need of protection usually have to apply for asylum - and if this is granted they get "refugee" status.People arriving in the UK in need of protection usually have to apply for asylum - and if this is granted they get "refugee" status.
But people brought to Britain under VPR have not gone through this process. Instead, they have been granted Humanitarian Protection, a status normally used for people who "don't qualify for asylum" but would be at "real risk of suffering serious harm" in their home country.But people brought to Britain under VPR have not gone through this process. Instead, they have been granted Humanitarian Protection, a status normally used for people who "don't qualify for asylum" but would be at "real risk of suffering serious harm" in their home country.
Like people granted refugee status, those given Humanitarian Protection can stay for five years, after which they can apply to settle in the UK.Like people granted refugee status, those given Humanitarian Protection can stay for five years, after which they can apply to settle in the UK.
People in both categories have the right to work and access public funds.People in both categories have the right to work and access public funds.
On the possibility of UK military intervention in Syria, Mr Osborne said the government was unlikely to put forward another Commons vote unless it knew it was likely to win parliamentary support.On the possibility of UK military intervention in Syria, Mr Osborne said the government was unlikely to put forward another Commons vote unless it knew it was likely to win parliamentary support.
In August 2013 MPs rejected UK military action in Syria by 285-272. Mr Osborne described it as "one of the worst decisions the House of Commons has ever made".In August 2013 MPs rejected UK military action in Syria by 285-272. Mr Osborne described it as "one of the worst decisions the House of Commons has ever made".
He said: "Personally I think, the prime minister thinks, the defence secretary and the foreign secretary - we all think there is a strong case, and indeed an argument around coherence, that if you're tackling Isis (IS) on one side of the Iraqi border you should be attacking on the other side in Syria."He said: "Personally I think, the prime minister thinks, the defence secretary and the foreign secretary - we all think there is a strong case, and indeed an argument around coherence, that if you're tackling Isis (IS) on one side of the Iraqi border you should be attacking on the other side in Syria."
The RAF has been carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq since September 2014 after MPs voted for military action in the country.The RAF has been carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq since September 2014 after MPs voted for military action in the country.
But Labour's shadow home secretary and leadership contender, Yvette Cooper, said she took a "cautious view" on whether the party would support UK military action in Syria. But Labour shadow home secretary and leadership contender Yvette Cooper said she took a "cautious view" on whether the party would support UK military action in Syria.
She told Sky News: "The big question for all of us should be where is the diplomatic effort coming from to get Syria, to get Russia, Iran, the Gulf states, the US, [the] EU, all pulling together to try to find a long-term sustainable solution."She told Sky News: "The big question for all of us should be where is the diplomatic effort coming from to get Syria, to get Russia, Iran, the Gulf states, the US, [the] EU, all pulling together to try to find a long-term sustainable solution."