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UK News

Bishop disappointed at government's failure on child refugees

In a major policy U-Turn, the Prime Minister announced in May that Britain would take in unaccompanied children registered in France, Italy and Greece following mounting political pressure - including from his own backbenches.

But a peer has said that as far as he knows, no children have been brought to Britain under the terms of the Bill.

Lord Dubs said: "No one has come through on this scheme yet. The only people who have come through I know are young people I met in Calais who then made it to Britain on the back of a lorry."

At the time of his announcement David Cameron said local councils would have to be consulted before any children were admitted to the UK.

Charities have warned that councils giving a home to refugee children lack the assurances for long term Government funding they need.

Citizens UK, Unicef UK and Lord Dubs are all backing an amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill, being debated in Parliament on Monday, to press minsters for greater assurances.

The Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, spokesman for Citizens UK, said: "Although we rejoiced when the Government agreed to step up and resettle unaccompanied child refugees from Europe, we are disappointed that their words are not being put into action.

"This generous offer of sanctuary to unaccompanied children must not be allowed to fail due to bureaucracy and cuts."

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