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| David Cameron to unveil UK response to refugee crisis before parliament | David Cameron to unveil UK response to refugee crisis before parliament |
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| David Cameron is to set out details of the government’s plans to resettle thousands of refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria and Islamic State militants as parliament reconvenes after the summer recess. | David Cameron is to set out details of the government’s plans to resettle thousands of refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria and Islamic State militants as parliament reconvenes after the summer recess. |
| The UK prime minister, who was effectively forced to act after the publication of harrowing photographs of the body of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi washed up on a Mediterranean beach, will tell MPs that the government would place a particular emphasis on helping orphaned children. | The UK prime minister, who was effectively forced to act after the publication of harrowing photographs of the body of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi washed up on a Mediterranean beach, will tell MPs that the government would place a particular emphasis on helping orphaned children. |
| Related: Andrew Mitchell suggests British troops could help create safe havens in Syria - Politics live | Related: Andrew Mitchell suggests British troops could help create safe havens in Syria - Politics live |
| George Osborne, the chancellor, said on Sunday that the housing and living costs of the refugees would be met for the first 12 months of their stay in Britain and come from the aid budget. The government is to embark on a “fundamental rethink” of the budget in which up to £1bn will be spent on failed states such as Syria, which have a direct impact on Britain’s national interest. | George Osborne, the chancellor, said on Sunday that the housing and living costs of the refugees would be met for the first 12 months of their stay in Britain and come from the aid budget. The government is to embark on a “fundamental rethink” of the budget in which up to £1bn will be spent on failed states such as Syria, which have a direct impact on Britain’s national interest. |
| Downing Street has declined to say how many refugees would be admitted to Britain. The Sunday Times reported that 10,000-15,000 people would be admitted as the government relaxes the criteria for the vulnerable persons relocation scheme that has so far given sanctuary to just 216 people. | Downing Street has declined to say how many refugees would be admitted to Britain. The Sunday Times reported that 10,000-15,000 people would be admitted as the government relaxes the criteria for the vulnerable persons relocation scheme that has so far given sanctuary to just 216 people. |
| Britain is refusing to take part in a proposed quota system, to be outlined by the European commission president, Jean Claude Juncker, in which the UK would take 18,000 refugees. But the prime minister said Britain was acting within the spirit of the EU approach. | Britain is refusing to take part in a proposed quota system, to be outlined by the European commission president, Jean Claude Juncker, in which the UK would take 18,000 refugees. But the prime minister said Britain was acting within the spirit of the EU approach. |
| As the prime minister prepared to make his statement, the former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell called for a “massive diplomatic effort” to allow for the creation of two safe havens in Syria to shelter the refugees. Military forces from Britain and other countries from the EU and the Middle East, acting under a UN chapter seven mandate, would protect the safe havens that could be based near the Turkish border in Idlib and Daraa province in the south-west of Syria by the border with Jordan. This would involve enforcing a no-fly zone. | As the prime minister prepared to make his statement, the former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell called for a “massive diplomatic effort” to allow for the creation of two safe havens in Syria to shelter the refugees. Military forces from Britain and other countries from the EU and the Middle East, acting under a UN chapter seven mandate, would protect the safe havens that could be based near the Turkish border in Idlib and Daraa province in the south-west of Syria by the border with Jordan. This would involve enforcing a no-fly zone. |
| Mitchell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We need a serious effort now to protect the millions of people who are on the move in this second world country where up to half the people of the 20 million population are now either over the border, heading for Europe, dead or displaced.” | Mitchell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We need a serious effort now to protect the millions of people who are on the move in this second world country where up to half the people of the 20 million population are now either over the border, heading for Europe, dead or displaced.” |
| Related: The photographs that moved the world to tears – and to take action | Sean O’Hagan | Related: The photographs that moved the world to tears – and to take action | Sean O’Hagan |
| The former cabinet minister said Britain would not deploy troops on the ground though he said this should be given serious consideration. “This is not the offensive action by troops that people in Britain sometimes recoil from.” he said. “It is a defensive action. It would need to be done under the UN charter, probably with a chapter seven mandate that allows them to defend themselves ... It would need massive capacity to defend themselves.” | The former cabinet minister said Britain would not deploy troops on the ground though he said this should be given serious consideration. “This is not the offensive action by troops that people in Britain sometimes recoil from.” he said. “It is a defensive action. It would need to be done under the UN charter, probably with a chapter seven mandate that allows them to defend themselves ... It would need massive capacity to defend themselves.” |
| But Mitchell admitted he would face a challenge in persuading Bashar al-Assad not to resist the safe havens, as well as from the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who wields a veto at the UN security council. “It is important for the UN, for the Russians, for others to lean on their clients who are protagonists in this conflict to allow the humanitarian relief to take place,” he said. | But Mitchell admitted he would face a challenge in persuading Bashar al-Assad not to resist the safe havens, as well as from the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who wields a veto at the UN security council. “It is important for the UN, for the Russians, for others to lean on their clients who are protagonists in this conflict to allow the humanitarian relief to take place,” he said. |
| The UK government is unlikely to accept Mitchell’s proposal on the grounds that it would be blocked by Russia and would have to involve the deployment of ground troops. The prime minister will instead say that the government will focus on providing help to refugee camps in Syria’s neighbouring countries. Britain is the second largest bilateral donor to the region after the US and has contributed £1bn since 2012. | The UK government is unlikely to accept Mitchell’s proposal on the grounds that it would be blocked by Russia and would have to involve the deployment of ground troops. The prime minister will instead say that the government will focus on providing help to refugee camps in Syria’s neighbouring countries. Britain is the second largest bilateral donor to the region after the US and has contributed £1bn since 2012. |
| In his statement to parliament, the prime minister will say that Britain will take extra refugees from the camps by relaxing the rules of the vulnerable persons relocation scheme. The scheme is currently available only to victims of torture or sexual violence and to elderly or disabled people who are unable to survive in a refugee camp. | In his statement to parliament, the prime minister will say that Britain will take extra refugees from the camps by relaxing the rules of the vulnerable persons relocation scheme. The scheme is currently available only to victims of torture or sexual violence and to elderly or disabled people who are unable to survive in a refugee camp. |
| Cameron will say that accepting refugees from the camps, rather than those who have made the perilous journey to Europe, is designed to discourage refugees from risking the hazardous sea crossing to Europe, which has already claimed thousands of lives. | Cameron will say that accepting refugees from the camps, rather than those who have made the perilous journey to Europe, is designed to discourage refugees from risking the hazardous sea crossing to Europe, which has already claimed thousands of lives. |
| But Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, who last week called for Britain to accept 10,000 refugees in a system involving every county and city taking 10 refugees, said the government should accept refugees who have travelled to Europe. She told the Today programme: “It is really important that we take people also from Europe not simply directly from Syria because there are 50,000 people arriving a month on one of the islands in Greece. How can Greece cope with that without extra support from other European countries?” | |
| The shadow home secretary welcomed reports that the government might accept 15,000 refugees. But Cooper said: “I really hope this figure of about 15,000 is right. We obviously need to see the figure because last time we pressed the government to take refugees from the Syrian camps. In fact, they ended up only taking a couple of hundred.” | The shadow home secretary welcomed reports that the government might accept 15,000 refugees. But Cooper said: “I really hope this figure of about 15,000 is right. We obviously need to see the figure because last time we pressed the government to take refugees from the Syrian camps. In fact, they ended up only taking a couple of hundred.” |
| The chancellor, George Osborne, on Sunday answered critics who said Britain was acting less generously than Germany, which is on course to admit 800,000 people this year, by saying the prime minister would outline far-reaching plans to help the refugees. | The chancellor, George Osborne, on Sunday answered critics who said Britain was acting less generously than Germany, which is on course to admit 800,000 people this year, by saying the prime minister would outline far-reaching plans to help the refugees. |
| Osborne said the international aid budget would be used to help with refugees’ housing and living costs in the first year of their stay in Britain. Ministers said this had been done before and counted as overseas development assistance, the OECD’s measure of aid spending. | Osborne said the international aid budget would be used to help with refugees’ housing and living costs in the first year of their stay in Britain. Ministers said this had been done before and counted as overseas development assistance, the OECD’s measure of aid spending. |
| He told the Andrew Marr Show: “The foreign aid budget can provide the support in the first year for these refugees, could help the local councils with things like housing costs. We will deploy the foreign aid budget to help with the costs of these refugees.” | He told the Andrew Marr Show: “The foreign aid budget can provide the support in the first year for these refugees, could help the local councils with things like housing costs. We will deploy the foreign aid budget to help with the costs of these refugees.” |
| The review of the aid budget will also include a big expansion of its reserve, known as the conflict, stability and security fund. This will allow for a more flexible response to a crisis, though aid groups will seek to ensure that the reserve, which is administered by the Foreign Office, is not used to subsidise defence spending on targeting Islamic State forces in Iraq. | The review of the aid budget will also include a big expansion of its reserve, known as the conflict, stability and security fund. This will allow for a more flexible response to a crisis, though aid groups will seek to ensure that the reserve, which is administered by the Foreign Office, is not used to subsidise defence spending on targeting Islamic State forces in Iraq. |
| The government said the change in aid spending would not undermine traditional projects in tackling poverty in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa. They are protected under the existing £12bn annual budget. | The government said the change in aid spending would not undermine traditional projects in tackling poverty in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa. They are protected under the existing £12bn annual budget. |
| Osborne stressed the refugee programme could be only one element in a wider plan to address the root causes of the refugee crisis, with action to tackle Assad’s “evil” regime as well as Isis. | Osborne stressed the refugee programme could be only one element in a wider plan to address the root causes of the refugee crisis, with action to tackle Assad’s “evil” regime as well as Isis. |
| Ministers are to begin making the case to extend RAF airstrikes against Isis in Iraq and join the US and other allies in attacking them in their heartlands inside Syria. | Ministers are to begin making the case to extend RAF airstrikes against Isis in Iraq and join the US and other allies in attacking them in their heartlands inside Syria. |
| Cameron has repeatedly said he would only intervene militarily in Syria if there was a consensus across parliament in favour of action. | Cameron has repeatedly said he would only intervene militarily in Syria if there was a consensus across parliament in favour of action. |
| Analysis - by Sam Jones | Analysis - by Sam Jones |
| How will the government pay for the “thousands more” Syrian refugees the UK has pledged to take? | How will the government pay for the “thousands more” Syrian refugees the UK has pledged to take? |
| On Sunday, the chancellor, George Osborne, announced that the government would use funds from the UK’s £12bn annual overseas aid budget to help local authorities cover the costs of housing refugees. | On Sunday, the chancellor, George Osborne, announced that the government would use funds from the UK’s £12bn annual overseas aid budget to help local authorities cover the costs of housing refugees. |
| He said: | He said: |
| The foreign aid budget that we have can provide the support for the first year for these refugees, to help the local councils with things like housing costs. | The foreign aid budget that we have can provide the support for the first year for these refugees, to help the local councils with things like housing costs. |
| We will deploy the foreign aid budget to help with the costs of these refugees. We have got a £12bn aid budget, we spend £250m on countries like Syria, Jordan and Turkey. We have got to have a fundamental re-think of how we are using this budget. | We will deploy the foreign aid budget to help with the costs of these refugees. We have got a £12bn aid budget, we spend £250m on countries like Syria, Jordan and Turkey. We have got to have a fundamental re-think of how we are using this budget. |
| Can the government spend overseas aid money at home? | Can the government spend overseas aid money at home? |
| Although the rules governing the use of overseas aid – known as official development assistance (ODA) – are strict, there is provision for domestic expenditure under some circumstances. | Although the rules governing the use of overseas aid – known as official development assistance (ODA) – are strict, there is provision for domestic expenditure under some circumstances. |
| According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): | According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): |
| Assistance to refugees in developing countries is reportable as ODA. Temporary assistance to refugees from developing countries arriving in donor countries is reportable as ODA during the first 12 months of stay, and all costs associated with eventual repatriation to the developing country of origin are also reportable. | Assistance to refugees in developing countries is reportable as ODA. Temporary assistance to refugees from developing countries arriving in donor countries is reportable as ODA during the first 12 months of stay, and all costs associated with eventual repatriation to the developing country of origin are also reportable. |
| Does the UK’s overseas aid money go on anything else at home? | Does the UK’s overseas aid money go on anything else at home? |
| Yes. A Guardian analysis in February revealed that some UK aid money is actually spent here: in 2012, almost £12m went on projects such as global citizenship lessons in Scottish schools; military and security training for African officials; and a “study visit” to the UK for North Korean officials. | Yes. A Guardian analysis in February revealed that some UK aid money is actually spent here: in 2012, almost £12m went on projects such as global citizenship lessons in Scottish schools; military and security training for African officials; and a “study visit” to the UK for North Korean officials. |
| Why does the UK have such a large overseas aid budget? | Why does the UK have such a large overseas aid budget? |
| In April last year, the UK became one of only a handful of European countries (the others being Luxembourg, Sweden and Denmark) to achieve the 45-year-old UN target of spending 0.7% of its gross national income as aid to poorer nations. | In April last year, the UK became one of only a handful of European countries (the others being Luxembourg, Sweden and Denmark) to achieve the 45-year-old UN target of spending 0.7% of its gross national income as aid to poorer nations. |
| How is the chancellor’s announcement likely to play out? | How is the chancellor’s announcement likely to play out? |
| The political push to get the 0.7% commitment enshrined in law at a time of financial crisis and austerity was not easy. A handful of Tory backbenchers attempted to derail the bill, with one memorably describing it as “a handout to make a few middle class, Guardian-reading, sandal-wearing, lentil-eating do-gooders with a misguided guilt complex feel better about themselves”. Ukip also opposed the move. In its 2015 election manifesto, the party pledged to slash Britain’s overseas aid spending by more than two-thirds and abolish the “wasteful” DfID. Given the government’s controversial decision to ringfence DfID’s budget at a time of austerity and swingeing cuts across Whitehall, Osborne’s announcement may go some way to placating opponents who question the need to spend so much abroad and congregate around the maxim that “charity begins at home”. | The political push to get the 0.7% commitment enshrined in law at a time of financial crisis and austerity was not easy. A handful of Tory backbenchers attempted to derail the bill, with one memorably describing it as “a handout to make a few middle class, Guardian-reading, sandal-wearing, lentil-eating do-gooders with a misguided guilt complex feel better about themselves”. Ukip also opposed the move. In its 2015 election manifesto, the party pledged to slash Britain’s overseas aid spending by more than two-thirds and abolish the “wasteful” DfID. Given the government’s controversial decision to ringfence DfID’s budget at a time of austerity and swingeing cuts across Whitehall, Osborne’s announcement may go some way to placating opponents who question the need to spend so much abroad and congregate around the maxim that “charity begins at home”. |
| What does DfID say? | What does DfID say? |
| The international development secretary, Justine Greening, said she welcomed the news and pointed out that Britain had already spent more than £1bn on trying to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the surrounding region. | The international development secretary, Justine Greening, said she welcomed the news and pointed out that Britain had already spent more than £1bn on trying to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the surrounding region. |
| Greening said that DfID and the Treasury were going to “fundamentally review” spending to make sure that “every additional pound goes towards addressing the global challenges that impact on Britain, like the crisis we’ve seen unfold on Europe’s borders”. | Greening said that DfID and the Treasury were going to “fundamentally review” spending to make sure that “every additional pound goes towards addressing the global challenges that impact on Britain, like the crisis we’ve seen unfold on Europe’s borders”. |