The Bishop of Durham received the following written answers on 21st July 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of people likely to be resettled this year under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme; and how that figure compares to (1) 2018, and (2) 2019.
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con, Home Office): In December 2020, the UK resumed resettlement following a pause due to the pandemic. On 25 February 2021 the Government met its target of resettling 20,000 refugees who have fled the conflict in Syria through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. Since then, the Government has continued to welcome refugees through the global UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS).
The number of refugees we resettle every year will depend on a variety of factors including local authorities’ capacity for supporting those we resettle and the extent to which Community Sponsorship continues to thrive. This year, the recovery from the pandemic will be a significant factor affecting capacity. We are working closely with our partners to assess the capacity for resettlement in the months ahead and will continue to welcome those in need in the years to come.
The numbers of refugees resettled are published through official statistics at quarterly intervals. The next set of statistics will be published in July and will include the number of people resettled since March. These are available from:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to their New Plan for Immigration, published on 24 March, whether they intend for the proposal that judges be told to give “minimal weight” to evidence raised by an asylum seeker late in the legal process to apply to unaccompanied children seeking asylum.
Baroness Williams of Trafford: The policy intention is that judges must have regard to the principle that minimal weight should be attached to late evidence unless there are good reasons why the evidence was provided late. It will be a matter for judges to make decisions having regard to that principle on a case-by-case basis.
The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to their New Plan for Immigration, published on 24 March, when they plan to consult on the proposal to remove support from families who have become Appeals Rights Exhausted (ARE), but have a child that was born prior to becoming ARE.
Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office plans to consult on the implementation of the support provisions of the Immigration Act 2016 later this year.

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