Response to the Migration Crisis from Huw Merriman MP:
The migration crisis unfolding before our eyes is very distressing to witness. I have received correspondence from constituents who have been moved to write to me and have urged the Government to do more. Others have written to me with the contrary view and point out that the UK cannot be responsible for these problems and is limited by size to take more migration. This is my response to the correspondence.
There are an estimated 570,000 migrants who are waiting for their asylum claims to be processed within the EU. It is estimated that, since January this year, 340,000 people illegally entered the EU. 300,000 people have crossed the seas this year in order to gain entry to the EU. The largest number of migrants appear to be from Syria, fleeing the regime of President Assad and ISIL forces. Other migration is occurring from across Asia, the Middle East and Africa notably from Iraq, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya and Nigeria. Countries on the border of the EU, such as the Balkan countries of Bosnia, Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo are also seeking entry to the EU for largely economic, rather than political and safety, reasons.
Accordingly, we have a huge number of people who are either fleeing civil war and violence or are seeking a new economic life in the EU. The big question for us in the UK is what we can, and should, do to help and what intervention, well intended as it may be, could make matters worse.
Much as it may appear kind to open our country to the many migrants who leave their countries, there is a real ethical reason for refusing to do so. If we in the UK give the impression that our country is open without restriction then thousands more people will risk their lives in attempting to make a safe crossing through dangerous waters. An estimated 2,500 migrants have lost their life in the sea already this year and in encouraging more crossings we are going to cause more deaths. In addition, in encouraging more fit and able people to leave their own land, rather than finding a safe haven within refugee camps, we deprive these countries of those who can turn their countries around. Who will look after the sick, elderly and vulnerable in these countries if their fittest and best have left for another continent? These are real ethical concerns which we must think about. We risk further destabilisation in these delicate continents if we take away large swathes of their population.
So what should we do to help instead? The UK has a proud record in supporting people in war-torn countries. Since 2010, the Conservative Government increased the amount of international aid we give to developing countries. We are the first G7 country to meet the UN's target to spend 0.7% of gross national income on international aid and development. In so doing, we have we have faced down critics, such as those in UKIP, who believe that we spend too much. We have spent almost £1bl on Syria alone since its civil war broke out, helping to set up refugee camps in safe areas and providing food and medicine. By comparison, Germany spends only 0.4% of its Gross national income on international aid and France has spent only £69m on Syria versus our own £1bl. As well as being the second highest provider of aid after the United States, the UK also grants political asylum to thousands of people from war-torn countries. The UK provided asylum to over 5,000 Syrians in the last four years and the Prime Minister has pledged to take 20,000 refugees over this term from Syrian refugee camps (but not from those who have made crossings over sea - so as not to encourage more migrants to lose their lives in the sea).
In promising to spend more money in Syrian refugee camps, and in committing to take thousands more Syrians from these camps, the Government has shown that Britain will stand up for those in difficulty but also not encourage migrants to risk their lives. I fully support the move to show compassion and provide aid to these people. Whilst the situation in Syria is not a result of our intervention, the UK has a proud record of helping others in their hour of need. I spoke in the House of Commons after the Prime Minister made this pledge and, on behalf of my constituents in Bexhill and Battle, welcomed the aid and safe harbour which the UK is affording to refugees and migrants.
To those who have written to me to urge that we spend less on international aid, I would contend that we are a relatively wealthy country compared to those in the third world and our intervention will promote peace, provide education, help more people to stay in their own country and save lives. For those who say we should not take more asylum seekers, the UK has a proud record of granting asylum and has always provided a lifeline to those in most need.
Political asylum can of course be a veil for economic migration. By way of example, 42% of Germany's asylum applications are believed to be from Balkan countries which are applying to join the EU. The German population is in decline and would reduce by 25% in time without net increases in migration. The UK has the reverse challenge with our population growing to record levels. I have a huge admiration for those who seek economic migration. We should be proud that so many in the world look upon the UK as a peaceful and prosperous nation where they can work hard and enjoy the fruits of their labour. I recognise that our island is limited in space but I do believe that those who seek to come and work hard in this country put in more than they take out and are unlikely to make such a journey to rely on benefits. Again, the key is getting the balance right so we have enough control of our borders but have a sufficient labour to continue with our own economic growth.
I am grateful that so many constituents have contacted me on this matter. I know that some want us to take a huge number of migrants in to the UK. For the reasons given above, I don't believe the solution to this problem is simply about taking people. We need a comprehensive solution that deals with the people most responsible for the terrible scenes we see: President Assad in Syria, the butchers of ISIL, and the criminal gangs that are running the terrible trade in trafficking people.
Update 3rd November 2015:
The Secretary of State for International Development, the Rt Hon Justine Greening, made a statement to the House of Commons on this issue. The British Government will continue to provide aid and support to those in the affected areas of the Middle East and North Africa. The Government has announced a further £5 million to provide sleeping bags, hygiene kits, nappies, food and clean water to those in Greece, Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Croatia. In total the UK has committed a further £25 million to support refugees arriving in Europe.
This additional funding is alongside the total of £1.1 billion that has been given to support Syrian refugees, making the UK the second largest donor country in the world. The Government continues to support refugees in the region, so they do not have to make the dangerous and life-threatening journey across sea to Europe.
