§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Kosovar Albanians will be evacuated from Macedonia to the UK; what criteria will be used as to who will qualify; what protection they will receive, and for how long; and where they will be housed. [81902]
§ Mr. StrawThe primary aim of the Government is to care for refugees in the region, and to facilitate their return to Kosovo. We are working together with our European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation partners and with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
We have long made it clear that we stand ready to respond to requests from UNHCR to take vulnerable refugees from Kosovo on a temporary basis. We have agreed with UNHCR that any recommendations for evacuation from the region should be co-ordinated through the office of the UNHCR. UNHCR will assess the desirability of temporary protection in the United Kingdom, will give priority to medical cases, other vulnerable persons and in support of family unity and make recommendations to the Home Office for consideration.
I announced on 20 April that arrangements had been agreed for the admission of 120 evacuees, mainly women and children, expected in the next few days. This decision was made following advice from UNHCR that the refugees were deemed to be vulnerable and in need of temporary protection outside the region.
People arriving under the UNHCR programme will be granted permission to enter in line with close family members already settled in the United Kingdom or 12 months' exceptional leave to enter to provide for their protection as requested by UNHCR.
I have tasked the Refugee Council with putting in place a special reception service for refugees arriving under the UNHCR programme. Under the plans, people will arrive in the United Kingdom through selected airports and will be placed in reception centres across the United Kingdom. The reception centres will be staffed by the Refugee Council and will provide temporary accommodation for refugees prior to their moving into more permanent 712W accommodation. The Refugee Council is liaising closely with local authorities through the Local Government Association.