Migrant crisis: Welsh local councils call for cash help

Local authorities are willing to "play their part" in the refugee crisis but need government cash to help them, a Welsh council leader has said.

Dyfed Edwards, from Gwynedd, said the cost should not be "simply passed on to shrinking local authority budgets".

David Cameron has said Britain will take "thousands" more Syrian refugees.

The Welsh government said it welcomed news the UK administration had "found its moral compass" and expected it to meet the costs involved.

'Spirit of unity'

Speaking for the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), Mr Edwards said: "The tragic scenes across Europe as the refugee crisis has developed touches and deeply affects all who witness the growing humanitarian crisis.

"This is an issue that demands a new spirit of unity and commitment across all European governments in terms of coming forward with practical and swift solutions to offset the unfolding tragedy.

"Councils across the country are playing their part and local government has an excellent track record in supporting refugee children and their families."

He said local councils had been discussing the issues with Welsh and UK governments in recent years and were "committed to urgently working together to find new solutions".

Dyfed Edwards says councils need financial help to accept refugees

"Any support offered by councils must be on a voluntary basis where support can be adequately provided," Mr Edwards added.

"However, central government has to recognise that the costs associated with this international problem must be fully met and funded through general taxation and not simply passed on to shrinking local authority budgets."

The prime minister announced on Friday that the UK would accept "thousands" more Syrian refugees and would give another £100m in humanitarian aid to help those in camps in the Middle East.

The Welsh government said: "Wales stands ready to play its full part in responding to this unfolding humanitarian tragedy, just as we always have done in the past.

"We welcome news that the UK Government has found its moral compass and has made a commitment to help thousands more refugees from Syria as we called for earlier in the week.

"As this is a non-devolved issue we expect the UK Government to meet the costs associated with this process."

'Front of the queue'

Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham are the UK's designated dispersal areas in Wales for asylum seekers.

Official statistics show that at the end of June, Wales had 2,355 asylum seekers - its highest level since 2007 and around 7.6% of the UK total of 30,457.

Wrexham council leader Mark Pritchard said the authority would "continue to play its part in in responding to this desperate situation".

Swansea council cabinet member Andrea Lewis said the city had already welcomed Syrian refugees and would be "at the front of the queue to offer a home to these children and families in their time of need" if asked to accept more.