The Government's refugee family reunion policy allows immediate family members of a person in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection status - that is, a spouse or partner and children under the age of 18, who formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country of origin - to reunite with them in the UK. I am very glad that such a scheme exists, which makes sure that family members that have been divided can once again be reunited.
I appreciate your belief that the Government should expand the scheme, however as I understand it there are no plans to widen the criteria. The criteria are fully compliant with the UK's international obligations and enable thousands of people each year to be reunited with their families in the UK. Three discretionary resettlement schemes are also in place for recognised refugees for whom resettlement is the most appropriate answer. These schemes are operated in partnership with the UNHRC: Gateway; Mandate; and the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme.
The Government continues to work with the key EU Member States to ensure the family reunification process works effectively. The UK and France have committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Dublin III Regulation are used efficiently and effectively. To assist the handling of such cases, the two Governments have established a permanent, official contact group and agreed on single points of contact within respective Dublin Units. In addition to this, the UK has recently seconded a senior asylum expert to the French Interior Ministry to improve the process for family cases, and this has already resulted in a significant increase in the number of children being reunited with family in the UK. As a result, once an asylum claim has been lodged in another Member State we have shown that transfers can take place within weeks.
The UK and France are continuously running regular joint communication campaigns in northern France which inform unaccompanied children and others of their right to claim asylum in France and of the family reunion process. The Government is also providing support to the Dublin Units in Greece and Italy bilaterally and through the European Asylum Support Office.
Rt. Hon James Brokenshire MP, when he was Immigration Minister, stated the Government's commitment to the refugee crisis below:
“The Government is committed to making a full contribution to the global refugee crisis, in particular by helping children at risk. We strongly believe that our approach to take action where it has the most impact in the region, within Europe and at our borders will appropriately safeguard vulnerable children and prevent them putting their lives at risk”.