Refugee Council report reveals shocking consequences of voucher support
The Refugee Council released a report into the consequences of a government policy that forces some asylum seekers to live on vouchers while they are in the UK.
This has left people in poor health, hungry and desperate, with some people exchanging £35 worth of vouchers for £25 cash.
Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said: “This situation is both appalling and unsustainable. The government must end this policy immediately, and offer people cash support. But the real solution lies in letting people work while they are here, allowing them to contribute to the communities in which they live and not forcing them to rely on inadequate state handouts.”
Download the report here
Read the Refugee Council press release
Visit the Let Them Work campaign website
How it was reported in the media:
The Guardian: Vouchers fail asylum seekers, says charity
Community Care: Inhumane system unfair to asylum seekers
New immigration minister
Following a cabinet reshuffle, Phil Woolas replaces Liam Byrne as Minister of State for borders and immigration.
How it was reported in the media:
The Telegraph : Immigration minister Phil Woolas proposes migrant limit
Independent inquiry into claims of abuse on people claiming asylum
An investigation into claims by people seeking asylum that they were mistreated or abused by British guards is to take place, headed by the former Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland, Nuala O’Loan.
This follows the publication in July of a report that included nearly 300 cases of alleged physical and racial abuse in the past four years.
How the story was reported in the media:
The Independent: Investigation into claims of abuse on asylum-seekers
The Independent: ‘Mistreatment of asylum seekers’, Letters
Plans to deny access to GPs about to be scrapped
There have been reports that government plans to deny access to GPs to people whose asylum claims have failed will now be scrapped.
A senior Whitehall source was quoted in the Observer as saying: 'Healthcare should not be a magnet, but there isn't any evidence that primary care is a draw for people choosing the UK as a destination.’
The Observer: GPs win care fight for asylum seekers
Scottish Justice Secretary backs letting asylum seekers work and an end to detention for children
Speaking at an event hosted by the Scottish Refugee Council, Kenny MacAskill, Justice Secretary in the Scottish Government backed the idea that people claiming asylum should be able to work and said that he was opposed to children being detained prior to removal from the UK.
Asylum and immigration are not currently devolved issues under the Scottish government’s control.
The Herald: MacAskill clashes with immigration chiefs over reforms
Parliament protest continues
Two people are continuing their fortnight-long protest against policies which force many people seeking asylum into destitution by camping out in Parliament Square. They are living on the contents of one Red Cross food parcel per week.
Visit the protesters’ website and blog
How the story was reported in the media:
Evening Standard: Parliament protest over plight of failed asylum seekers
UN human rights commissioner voices concern over detention
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, has expressed worries that increasing numbers of immigrants and people seeking asylum are being jailed in wealthier countries.
“The great majority of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers are not criminals and therefore should not be confined in detention centres like criminals,” she said.
The commissioner warned that the new EU rules on illegal immigration could lead to excessively long periods of detention and described the detention of unaccompanied children as “troubling”.
How it was reported in the media:
Reuters Alert Net: Immigrants amongst millions unlawfully detained - Pillay
Voice of America: UN Says Millions of People in Arbitrary, Unlawful Detention
‘Let people seeking asylum work’ says Kent charity
Kent Refugee Help, which works with refugees at Dover Immigration Removal Centre, urged local Kent residents to join the Refugee Council’s Let Them Work campaign.
Kent News: ‘Give us the right to work’ argue refugees (print edition only)
Visit the Let Them Work campaign website
Home Office figures on unaccompanied children released
3,525 unaccompanied children aged 17 or under arrived in the UK last year, according to Home Office figures.
Local authorities are responsible for placing children into foster care or supported lodgings, and providing them with schooling, language and social worker help.
Judith Dennis, Unaccompanied Children’s Policy Adviser at the Refugee Council, said: “Their stories are among the most tragic you will hear. Some will have been child soldiers, other are the victims of war.
“The parents and families of many will have been killed or are missing.”
How it was reported in the media:
BBC News: Asylum hope children travel alone
Southern Daily Echo: I fled war in Iraq to seek asylum in England
Cycling project success
Young people involved in the Refugee Council’s cycling project were featured in the South London Press. The project allowed them to learn to repair broken bikes, cycle safely on London’s roads and take part in the Freewheel event in central London – as well as getting to keep a bike if they met the project’s targets.
Read the Cycling Project blog
South London Press: Bicycle boost for refugees (in print version only)
Government advice needed on funding for single issue groups
New Start reported that organisations serving single minority communities, such as many refugee community organisations, continue to face uncertainty over funding following the High Court ruling against Ealing Council’s decision to end its funding of Southall Black Sisters. Organisations have called for the government to look into the impact of funding moving away from single issue groups.
Jonathan Ellis, director of policy and development at the Refugee Council, said “We are lobbying hard to change the way so-called single interest groups are perceived, as we know how important they are for refugees themselves and for the communities in which they live.”
New Start: Single issue groups call for grant aid guidance to be speeded up
ILPA update
The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association released updates relating to the Draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill and the new points based system.
IILPA update 16
Draft (partial) Immigration and Citizenship Bill
Draft Bill and Identity Cards
Draft Bill and the Right of Abode
Points Based System and Temporary Workers
Points Based System and Youth Mobility
