Title

WHITEHALL

Government committed to settling refugees 'as quickly as possible'

The Government said it was fully committed to settling Syrian refugees ‘as quickly as possible’ following a meeting with local authority leaders on Friday.

The Government said it was fully committed to settling Syrian refugees ‘as quickly as possible' following a meeting with local authority leaders on Friday.

However, a statement said it was ‘too early to speculate on when the numbers arriving would start to rise'.

Home secretary Theresa May is expected to give a further update on the situation this week.

The first meeting of the Syrian resettlement taskforce followed a surge in local authorities pledging to support refugees.

David Simmonds, from the Local Government Association, said councils wanted reassurance that long-term plans were in place to help people.

‘This is not just about money in the short-term but that resources are going to be there so that families and children are properly supported,' he said.

‘They need to be able to integrate into life in the UK and think about their education, their work opportunities and their housing opportunities.'

In one of the latest offers of support Edinburgh City Council said it would house 100 Syrian refugees over the next 12 months.

It said the commitment was in response to the ‘humanitarian crisis' across Europe as refugees continued to arrive from the war-torn Middle East.

WHITEHALL

Reorganisation could break care services unless government gets reform right

By Cllr Matthew Hicks | 10 October 2025

New analysis raises serious concerns for the future sustainability, quality and cost of people-based services if excessive fragmentation into smaller council...

WHITEHALL

CCN: Social care faces 'triple whammy' from reorganisation

By William Eichler | 10 October 2025

Plans to split large councils into smaller unitary authorities could hit vulnerable people with a ‘triple whammy’ of worse services, higher costs and staff s...

WHITEHALL

Social care fair pay 'unlikely to be sufficient'

By Martin Ford | 09 October 2025

Doubt has been cast on whether the adult social care fair pay agreement will have the impact claimed by ministers.

WHITEHALL

Delivery of housing can be turbo-charged

By Cllr John Merry | 09 October 2025

Cities and central government must work together to tackle the viability barriers to housing delivery, says Cllr John Merry.

Popular articles by Mark Whitehead