Few councils take up UN scheme

Two groups of refugees arrived in the north of England this week as part of an international resettlement scheme that is proving unpopular with councils.

The 33 people, 30 in Bolton and three in Bury, bring the total number of refugees settled in the UK under the United Nations Gateway Protection Programme to 256. But when the government agreed to take part more than three years ago, it hoped that up to 500 refugees would be helped to settle each year.

The refugees are the second groups to be taken by Bolton and Bury under the scheme. Sheffield, which has also taken two groups of refugees, is the only other council to have taken part so far.