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SNP's Angus Robertson tells Commons debate 'act quickly to help refugees' SNP's Angus Robertson tells Commons debate 'act quickly to help refugees'
(35 minutes later)
The SNP's Westminster leader has told MPs that the government needs to accommodate refugees from the Syrian conflict "as quickly as possible".The SNP's Westminster leader has told MPs that the government needs to accommodate refugees from the Syrian conflict "as quickly as possible".
Angus Robertson made the plea at the start of a House of Commons debate.Angus Robertson made the plea at the start of a House of Commons debate.
The UK government said 20,000 refugees would be helped over the next five years.The UK government said 20,000 refugees would be helped over the next five years.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening told MPs that since "day one" Britain had been at the forefront of responses to the crisis.International Development Secretary Justine Greening told MPs that since "day one" Britain had been at the forefront of responses to the crisis.
She also called on other countries to step-up their efforts in supporting longer-term UN work to deal with crises such as that seen in Syria.She also called on other countries to step-up their efforts in supporting longer-term UN work to deal with crises such as that seen in Syria.
'Kindness of strangers''Kindness of strangers'
Leading the chamber debate, Mr Robertson said: "My mail bag has been crammed-packed with people of good will, firstly calling for the government to do more and secondly giving concrete offers of help and assistance."Leading the chamber debate, Mr Robertson said: "My mail bag has been crammed-packed with people of good will, firstly calling for the government to do more and secondly giving concrete offers of help and assistance."
He added: "These offers of help are being made domestically and internationally.He added: "These offers of help are being made domestically and internationally.
"The government should go away and work with the English local government association, the Scottish government, Welsh government, the authorities in Northern Ireland, with churches and others to accommodate as quickly as possible - this is a life or death issue and we should get on with it.""The government should go away and work with the English local government association, the Scottish government, Welsh government, the authorities in Northern Ireland, with churches and others to accommodate as quickly as possible - this is a life or death issue and we should get on with it."
This is the second debate on the issue in the past two days.This is the second debate on the issue in the past two days.
The SNP motion condemning the UK government's failure to provide more support had been given the backing of Labour's front bench, as well as the leaders of the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the SDLP.The SNP motion condemning the UK government's failure to provide more support had been given the backing of Labour's front bench, as well as the leaders of the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the SDLP.
Labour's Hilary Benn said that he very much welcomed the spirit in which the SNP had sought all-party support.Labour's Hilary Benn said that he very much welcomed the spirit in which the SNP had sought all-party support.
He added: "It is right that the House is debating how Britain should respond to this crisis - it has been described as the largest movement of refugees since the end of the second world war.He added: "It is right that the House is debating how Britain should respond to this crisis - it has been described as the largest movement of refugees since the end of the second world war.
"But what is the reality? The reality is, it is mothers and fathers and children, brothers and sisters forced by bloody conflict to leave their homes. Their schools have been destroyed their relatives have been killed."But what is the reality? The reality is, it is mothers and fathers and children, brothers and sisters forced by bloody conflict to leave their homes. Their schools have been destroyed their relatives have been killed.
"They flee from the land from which they were born to seek help from the kindness of strangers."They flee from the land from which they were born to seek help from the kindness of strangers.
"Everything they have and knew has been destroyed. They see no hope, no future and no life. And deep down every single one of us in this chamber today understands because it is exactly what we would do if those we loved were confronted by the same horror.""Everything they have and knew has been destroyed. They see no hope, no future and no life. And deep down every single one of us in this chamber today understands because it is exactly what we would do if those we loved were confronted by the same horror."
'Senseless deaths'
The minister, Ms Greening, said she recognised that there were "no easy answers" on how to deal with the refugee crisis.
However, she added: "Since day one, Britain has been at the forefront of the response and we have evolved our response as this complex crisis has evolved.
"Britain has done, and will continue to do, a huge amount to help the Syrians caught up in this crisis.
"And of course our priority has been to stop the senseless deaths of refugees and migrants making the perilous journeys and indeed our assets, including Royal Navy ships, have played their part in the European response that has helped rescue over 6,700 people in the Mediterranean.
"We are also working alongside other European partners to tackle those criminal gangs and trafficking networks that profit from this human misery."