London: Prime Minister David Cameron told the members of the parliament that The United Kingdom will accept up to 20,000 refugees from Syria over the next five years.
He said the UK had a “moral responsibility” to those living in camps bordering Syria while doing all it can to end the conflict there.
Vulnerable children and orphans would be prioritised in what would be a “national effort”, Mr Cameron said.
But Labour said the 20,000 figure was inadequate and secured an emergency Commons debate on Tuesday.
Commons Speaker John Bercow agreed to a Labour request for a three-hour debate about the wider crisis in Europe, with shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper urging the prime minister to reconsider his response.
Ms Cooper insisted Britain must also help refugees who have made it to Europe as well as Mr Cameron’s current proposal to take more from camps surrounding Syria.
In his two hour statement to Parliament, Mr Cameron also revealed that two British-born nationals believed to planning terrorist attacks on the UK were killed in an RAF drone strike in Syria last month.
Earlier on Monday, France announced that it would take in 24,000 refugees over the next two years.
Cameron told MPs that the suffering of the Syrian people and others trying to make it to Europe in recent weeks was “heartbreaking” and that the UK was stepping up its effort to help those displaced by the conflict.
He told MPs that the existing Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme, in place since early 2014, would be expanded, with an additional 20,000 people currently living in camps in Syria, Turkey and Jordan being resettled in the UK by 2020.
People brought to Britain under VPR have been granted Humanitarian Protection, a status normally used for people who “don’t qualify for asylum“ but would be at ”real risk of suffering serious harm” in their home country.
They can stay for five years, have the right to work and access public funds. After five years they can apply to settle in the UK.
Cameron told MPs many of those to be given sanctuary would be children, describing it as the “modern equivalent of the Kinder transport” during World War Two.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees would be responsible for identifying those most in need, with all those considered for resettlement to be subject to security checks.
The government, he said, would work with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and councils in England to ensure the maximum capacity was available and the commitment could be “properly delivered on the ground”.
“We will continue to show the world that this country is a country of extra compassion, always standing up for our values and helping those in need,” Cameron said.
