PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Refugees: English Language (31 October 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will grant the same additional support for English language learning recently made available for refugees resettled to the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme and Vulnerable Children's Resettlement Scheme to all refugees.

Asked by:
Rosie Duffield (Independent)

The Government is committed to ensuring that refugees in the UK are able to integrate and recognises that English language skills are key to this.

Specific provision for English Language tuition has been built into the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme and the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme in recognition of the vulnerability and particular needs of the refugees who arrive through these routes.

Not all those granted refugee status in the UK are new to the country or require English language support. However, all refugees are eligible for English language training and can attend ESOL classes and English language training made available under Education and Skills Funding Agency provision. Refugees are also able to access English language training following referral by JobCentre Plus.

Answered by:
Sir Brandon Lewis (Conservative)
6 November 2017