PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Mediterranean Sea (28 October 2014)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support she is providing to countries of origin and transit in North Africa to tackle smugglers and criminal gangs who transport migrants across the Mediterranean; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by:
Gareth Thomas (Labour)

The Government supports the conclusions on the response to migration pressures in the Mediterranean, unanimously adopted at the JHA Council meeting on 9-10 October under the Italian Presidency, which included proposals to strengthen cooperation with transit countries in North Africa whilst phasing out the currentemergency search and rescue operations carried out by Italy.

We are supporting EU proposals for enhanced refugee protection in North and East Africa, building on our current support for those seeking
protection in the region of Syria. We have joined a steering group for a new EU project in the Horn of Africa which will develop, implement and resource concrete actions to address human trafficking in the region. The UK is also among those Member States offering the greatest numbers of resettlement places for refugees from outside the EU, working closely with UNHCR (over 4,000 between 2008-2013). We recognise that there are some particularly vulnerable Syrian refugees who cannot be supported effectively in the region. We have therefore launched our UK Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme. We have also contributed £700 million to the Syria relief effort so far making the UK the second largest bilateral donor after the USA.

Answered by:
James Brokenshire (Conservative)
10 November 2014