AN annual cap on refugees allowed into Britain will be brought in to take the strain off housing and public services.
The figure for those arriving legally will be based on the numbers councils say they can cope with.
AlamyImmigration minister Robert Jenrick has announced a cap on refugees will be introduced[/caption]
They are at the forefront of providing homes and support — but are stretched to breaking point by those arriving illegally.
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said: “The unacceptable number of people making illegal, dangerous and unnecessary small boat crossings is placing an immense strain on housing and services across the UK.
“As part of the Illegal Migration Act to stop the boats, we will bring in a cap on our safe and legal routes, informed by the capacity of local authorities.
“This will ensure that we do not take more refugees than our public services and communities can cope with and that the refugees we do decide to take can be properly supported and integrated.”
The cap will be introduced from January 2025 and will be updated every year, depending on any humanitarian crises.
It will not include those covered by schemes to help refugees relocate from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
Campaigners last night accused the Government of passing the buck to underfunded councils to justify limiting numbers.
Enver Solomon, from the Refugee Council, said: “There currently aren’t enough safe routes for those facing persecution and terror to reach our shores.”
Even a Policy Exchange report recommending a cap says it should kick in only when illegal arrivals are below 10,000 a year.
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