No 10 insists refugee offer is 'no empty gesture'

No 10 insist David Cameron's latest offer is not an empty gesture Credit: PA

While No 10 is refusing to say how many child refugees Britain will accept over the next few months, the Prime Minister's spokesman insists his latest offer is not an empty gesture.

There will be three areas where Britain will help:

Firstly, officials will work with UNHCR staff to identify vulnerable children in the refugee camps near Syria who could be resettled here.

Secondly, Britain will accept some unaccompanied children from Italy and Greece BUT only if they have family links here.

Thirdly, £10 million is being earmarked to help with emergency aid in Europe. That could include help for those stranded in Calais.

£10 million is being earmarked for emergency aid in Europe Credit: PA

It will make some difference but perhaps not as much as the charities who've been demanding action would like.

They argue there are at least 26,000 vulnerable children already in Europe and Britain needs to be more generous in alleviating their plight.