PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Refugees: Syria (4 September 2015)

The Prime Minister has announced the expansion of the Government's Syrian Vulnerable Person Scheme, which is based on need rather than fulfilling a quota in a particular year. We expect to resettle 20,000 Syrians in need of protection during this Parliament. As the expanded scheme is based on need and reliant on the UNHCR and other partners to deliver, it is not possible or appropriate to set any sort of annual target, but we are clear that we must help people as soon as possible as the Home Secretary updated the House on 16 September.

In addition to the Scheme, since the crisis in Syria began in 2011 we have granted asylum or other forms of leave to almost 5,000 Syrian nationals and dependants through normal asylum procedures. The UK has a proud history of offering asylum to those who need it most; we will continue to carefully consider all asylum applications made in the UK on their individual merits to ensure we provide protection where it is really needed.