GETTY Plans for English lessons in the refugee camps will not happen

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Officials hoped they could provide a three-week intensive English language course to the 20,000 Syrian refugees set to come here over the next five years. But the scheme failed to get off the blocks, Richard Harrington, the MP overseeing the program has admitted. Mr Harrington, Home Office Parliamentary under secretary for the Syrian refugees, said officials couldn’t get the refugees all together, even though “they all have smart phones”. Only 30% of the 40,000 eligible vulnerable refugees live on refugee camps, it has emerged, with many camped up in fields, in villages or renting flats. The revelation was brought to light when Pauline Latham asked the fellow Tory MP how he planned to integrate the refugees.

She said: "What about language skills? "They do not naturally speak English. "You are very keen to get them into employment. "How are they going to do that without the language skills?" Mr Harrington explained that they would have to start courses once they got into the country. He said: "I had an idea, which (the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration cannot do, which was to give them English over there.

Refugees seek peace in war torn Syria Tue, July 11, 2017 Devastating images of Syrian refugees seeking peace on their journey to Europe. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 53 Displaced people from the minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Islamic State

I thought they could have three weeks’ English before they came, but they are so dispersed I am afraid it proved impossible. Richard Harrington MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Syrian Refugees

"I thought they could have three weeks’ English before they came, but they are so dispersed I am afraid it proved impossible." He also admitted there was a shortage of English lessons once people arrived in the UK. He said: "It is absolutely top priority, for employment, integration, kids at school—everything. "What happens is the children become the interpreters for the parents, because they pick it up like that.

GETTY Classes will have to be provided once they reacsh our shore

"English lessons are a priority when they get here. "One of the things I learnt in my first couple of weeks when I went to Bradford was that there were not enough English lessons.

GETTY The Home Office struggled to get refugees together despite even the vulnerable having smart phones

"They are top priority. "Speaking to commercial sponsors, many companies have offered assistance to design a specific English language process."

GETTY Only 30% of people waiting to come here are on refugee camps