Councils in refugees pledge

Scotland’s councils stand “ready, willing and able” to take at least 2,000 Syrian refugees, with many arriving by Christmas, according to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

All 32 local authorities have agreed to support a "co-ordinated response" to the humanitarian crisis.

While not all council areas may end up receiving refugees due to the complex needs of those arriving, at least 18 could see the first groups of people arriving before Christmas.

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COSLA president David O’Neill said:  “The Syrian refugee crisis has seen not only an outpouring of public concern for the plight of the millions of people who have had to flee their homes but also an unprecedented response from Scottish local government. 

“A number of councils had already been in discussions with the Home Office about their involvement in the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.  

“The last three weeks has seen all Scotland's councils willing to support a co-ordinated response to what can only be described as a humanitarian crisis.  

“For many councils that has seen them committing to taking refugees immediately.” 

The Scottish Government pledged to accept at least 2,000 of the 20,000 refugees which the UK government has agreed to take.

Glasgow City Council is one of a small number of councils across the UK that had already received people.

The city has taken more than a quarter of refugees that have arrived in the UK through this scheme. 

Councillor Harry McGuigan, COSLA’s communities spokesman added:  “We fully recognise that this is not simply about matching people to houses, and that we must meet the wider needs of people so that they can integrate into our communities and build a safe life in Scotland.

“The response to this crisis will therefore be focused on balancing the urgency of the situation with planning the most appropriate ways in which councils and their community planning partners receive and integrate these extremely vulnerable people.” 

O’Neill said COSLA would be working with all Scottish councils to support and co-ordinate their efforts and to negotiate on their behalf with the Home Office and Scottish Government about the shape and effective implementation of the resettlement programme.

Scotland’s Minister for External Affairs and International Development Humza Yousaf tweeted: “I Applaud COSLA’s efforts getting our local authorities ready to start accepting refugees – [councils are] vital partners on taskforce.”