Britain is to send a new ship to support efforts to rescue refugees from the Mediterranean Sea, the Government has said.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said VOS Grace will be deployed on Thursday.

The announcement follows calls in the Commons from Labour former shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper for British boats to return, as she warned not enough is being done to help people fleeing to Europe from the Syrian civil war.

Ms Greening told MPs: "I can announce to the House that having been in touch with Frontex to offer further support, the UK will, as of Thursday, be deploying a new ship to help provide search and rescue facilities in the Mediterranean.

"We have now had that request accepted so VOS Grace will be part of that effort, which I think is good news."

Ms Greening added: "It's worth reflecting that the support already from the UK in relation to border force cutters and Royal Navy ships has saved over 8,000 lives to date."

Asking an urgent question, Ms Cooper thanked the Department for International Development for its work in the Middle East and Greece and the Balkans.

But she warned Ms Greening: "You will know that across Europe we are simply not doing enough. Too many people are dying, too many children are suffering on Europe's soil and off Europe's shores."

Ms Cooper recalled her visit to Lesbos and how she watched "flimsy" dinghies pull in, adding smugglers are offering discounts when the weather is worse and causing refugee numbers to surge.

The former Labour leadership contender said residents and volunteers on the island were lacking supplies, including blankets and toilets.

Ms Cooper said: "There are not enough rescue boats in the area. HMC Protector and Seeker have been sent home so we had the case of a family in the water for five hours and a baby pulled out by fishermen who then managed to resuscitate him."

She added an aid worker informed her of worries about cholera in Europe.

Ms Cooper urged Ms Greening to visit Lesbos and the Balkans, while also pressing Britain and other European countries to offer more humanitarian aid.

She said the Moria refugee camp is "just appalling and should shame us all".

Ms Cooper added to the minister: "Will you also ensure that the British boats can return to the Mediterranean to assist with the search and rescue so people don't drown.

"Winter is drawing in and this is on our conscience. All of us need to make sure there is action now."

In reply, Ms Greening confirmed the deployment of VOS Grace, before adding Ms Cooper - who is chairing Labour's refugee taskforce - was right about pressing other European countries to do more.

She said: "I think we can be proud as a country of the work we've done to help people affected by this crisis in Syria, but also latterly as they've also arrived in Europe.

"That's not just been the work I've talked about in relation to saving lives in the Mediterranean. We've provided asylum for thousands of people and of course ... we are helping very actively on the ground to key agencies, like the UNHCR, the Red Cross, the IOM as well.

"But you are right to highlight more needs to be done and that was precisely the point I made in Luxembourg last Monday at an EU ministers meeting.

"Britain cannot do this on our own. I think we can be proud of the work that we're doing. No country in Europe has done more, but we need other European member states to now join this effort."

Earlier, Ms Greening noted 218,000 refugees crossed the Mediterranean in October - more than in the whole of 2014.

She said more than 750,000 refugees have made the crossing this year.

The Tory frontbencher highlighted the UK's aid efforts in the Middle East, adding the country has provided nearly £25 million to support refugees arriving in Europe and travelling in North Africa.

The Department for International Development said civilian vessel VOS Grace will be in the region until "mid-April", with Royal Marines, border force officers and a "small medical team" on board.

The department noted the ship was designed as an emergency response and rescue vehicle and will work alongside other ships from EU countries, including the Italian coastguard.

Shadow international development secretary Diane Abbott said 570,000 migrants had entered Greece this year.

She said: "The mayor said there is no room on Lesbos to bury any more refugees. We know £20 million has been allocated, you have announced a further £5 million emergency fund and will be deploying a new ship but what action will the British Government, working with EU partners take to tackle the increasing activity of people smugglers?

"The Government has promised to resettle 4,000 refugees this year and 20,000 over the next five years. Can we have a progress check on this? Are there any plans to increase the number?"

Ms Abbott said the Government should be commended for money spent on the camps in Syria but warned: "We are seeing a crisis unfolding in Greece and the Balkans which shames the European family of nations."

Ms Greening replied: "This is an issue of European credibility.

"The UK is a country that has been at the leading edge of providing support to people effected by this crisis. But is important that when we see people arrive on Europe's shore that they are effectively taken care of.

"It is vital other EU member states play their role alongside our efforts too."

Ms Greening said British vessels were tackling people smugglers as well as taking part in search and rescue operations.

Tory MP Bob Stewart (Beckenham) asked: "What percentage do you think are people who are fleeing for their lives and what percentage are people who are fleeing to get a better lifestyle?"

Ms Greening replied: "One of the challenges Europe has had over recent months is actually understanding in detail the drivers behind the refugee flows.

"The two points you set out are not mutually exclusive and we are seeing some Syrians who are not only fleeing what they believe to be a very unstable region but also are in many cases very well educated and actually want to get on with their lives and have a better life for themselves in Europe."