A lack of clarity on what local authorities should provide to Syrian refugees poses a threat to the long-term success of the Government’s resettlement programme, MPs have warned.
It found there was a lack of clarity around responsibilities and entitlements under the programme.
In particular, some councils were confused about what they were expected to provide to refugees and how this should be funded.
The committee called on the Home Office to ‘more clearly specify what local authorities are expected to provide to refugees to address any current disparities or confusion’.
It also said central government plans for evaluating the programme were ‘still too vague’.
PAC chair Meg Hillier said: ‘While the programme team was right to take a fresh look at the programme last year, more work is needed to make it sustainable in the longer term.’
David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association's (LGA) asylum, migration and refugee task group, said: 'We are confident that there will be sufficient pledges to support the Government's aim to resettle 20,000 people by 2020, and the LGA, regional partnerships and authorities will continue to share learning on how best to settle families in their new communities.'