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| Scotland increases pressure on David Cameron to admit refugee children | Scotland increases pressure on David Cameron to admit refugee children |
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| The Scottish government has added to growing pressure on David Cameron to admit thousands of unaccompanied and at-risk refugee children to the UK. | The Scottish government has added to growing pressure on David Cameron to admit thousands of unaccompanied and at-risk refugee children to the UK. |
| Humza Yousaf, the SNP minister who has spearheaded Scotland’s response to the humanitarian crisis, on Tuesday called on the UK government to increase the number of refugees it is prepared to accept and suggested that his own government would be willing to take more than its proportionate commitment if necessary. | Humza Yousaf, the SNP minister who has spearheaded Scotland’s response to the humanitarian crisis, on Tuesday called on the UK government to increase the number of refugees it is prepared to accept and suggested that his own government would be willing to take more than its proportionate commitment if necessary. |
| Yousaf has written to international development secretary, Justine Greening, asking her to make available the resources needed to underpin the calls from charities, led by Save the Children, to admit at least 3,000 young people who have already reached Europe without their parents from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, and who are judged to be at serious risk from traffickers. | Yousaf has written to international development secretary, Justine Greening, asking her to make available the resources needed to underpin the calls from charities, led by Save the Children, to admit at least 3,000 young people who have already reached Europe without their parents from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, and who are judged to be at serious risk from traffickers. |
| Yousaf, the Scottish government’s minister for Europe and international development, held a meeting with Save the Children on Tuesday afternoon as pressure grew on the UK government to offer a safe haven after Downing Street indicated at the weekend that the prime minister was seriously considering the charities’ plans. | Yousaf, the Scottish government’s minister for Europe and international development, held a meeting with Save the Children on Tuesday afternoon as pressure grew on the UK government to offer a safe haven after Downing Street indicated at the weekend that the prime minister was seriously considering the charities’ plans. |
| Speaking to the Guardian immediately after the meeting, Yousaf said: “The public outcry over the refugee crisis really began with the photograph of Alan Kurdi. That sparked outrage at the time and now we have almost cross-party consensus about these unaccompanied children, with Tim Farron and Jeremy Corbyn also in agreement.” | Speaking to the Guardian immediately after the meeting, Yousaf said: “The public outcry over the refugee crisis really began with the photograph of Alan Kurdi. That sparked outrage at the time and now we have almost cross-party consensus about these unaccompanied children, with Tim Farron and Jeremy Corbyn also in agreement.” |
| Related: Stories of 2015: how Alan Kurdi's death changed the world | Related: Stories of 2015: how Alan Kurdi's death changed the world |
| Scotland welcomed 400 of the 1,000 refugees Cameron agreed to take before the end of 2015, although the Scottish government’s proportionate commitment was to take 10%. But Yousaf insisted on Tuesday it was “the floor and not the ceiling” of how many refugees Scotland was willing to accept. | Scotland welcomed 400 of the 1,000 refugees Cameron agreed to take before the end of 2015, although the Scottish government’s proportionate commitment was to take 10%. But Yousaf insisted on Tuesday it was “the floor and not the ceiling” of how many refugees Scotland was willing to accept. |
| However, he cautioned that this willingness would have to be matched with resources from the UK government, saying that “there has to be an extensive package of resources because [taking unaccompanied children] is much more complex than taking families”. | However, he cautioned that this willingness would have to be matched with resources from the UK government, saying that “there has to be an extensive package of resources because [taking unaccompanied children] is much more complex than taking families”. |
| Yousaf added: “There has already been an overwhelming response from local authorities – Scotland has taken 40% of all Syrian refugees who arrived in the UK before Christmas last year. People across Scotland have been quick to offer any help they can and the welcome given to refugees arriving in our communities has been outstanding. | Yousaf added: “There has already been an overwhelming response from local authorities – Scotland has taken 40% of all Syrian refugees who arrived in the UK before Christmas last year. People across Scotland have been quick to offer any help they can and the welcome given to refugees arriving in our communities has been outstanding. |
| “I again urge the UK government to do more and increase the number of refugees they are prepared to accept. Scotland is willing to continue to play its part.” | “I again urge the UK government to do more and increase the number of refugees they are prepared to accept. Scotland is willing to continue to play its part.” |
| A spokesperson for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities reiterated the need to have resources secured in advance, saying: “While we support the desire to offer safe and secure futures for some of these young people, in the current financial climate, we will have to secure assurances about how this would be fully resourced.” |