£12,600: The cost per Syrian refugee to West Yorkshire city

A WEST Yorkshire city is to be paid £630,000 by the Government to resettle 50 Syrian refugees before Christmas, the YEP has learned.
Syrian refugee children heading for a refugee centre in Presevo, Serbia.  Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA WireSyrian refugee children heading for a refugee centre in Presevo, Serbia.  Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
Syrian refugee children heading for a refugee centre in Presevo, Serbia. Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

The funding for the Bradford district will cover housing, resettlement costs, education and healthcare for a year.

The money - which equates to £12,600 per person - will go to the council, healthcare providers, education providers and housing associations.

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No official overall funding numbers have been published by the Government following its renewed commitment to take in 20,000 more Syrian refugees over the next five years.

However councils are being made aware of their settlements as they confirm their individual pledges.

The YEP contacted the Home Office and was told no regional breakdown was available yet.

However we were told costs could vary depending on how vulnerable particular individuals and families are deemed to be.

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Reports earlier this year - based on a leaked briefing document from a council in the South East - suggested each adult Syrian refugee will cost taxpayers up to £23,420 in the first year. The figure for children was £16,000.

So far, Leeds has received 50 individual Syrian refugees as part of the Government-led resettlement program, with 175 to arrive in 2016 and 2017.

Wakefield will take 100 people and Kirklees up to 120.

Yorkshire as a whole has agreed to resettle 1,500 Syrian refugees as part of the Government pledge.

David Brown, head of Migration Yorkshire, said: “National Government have agreed to pick up the whole tab. There won’t be an impact on local councils.”