Reforming asylum support: effective support for those with protection needs

The Refugee Council has responded to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) consultation Reforming asylum support: effective support for those with protection needs published on 12th November 2009, which closed on 4th February 2010.

The Refugee Council is concerned that the consultation contains no recognition of the current high levels of destitution among asylum seekers in the UK, often caused by the failure to deliver support promptly to those who are eligible, nor is there any mention of the need to improve the asylum system so that refugees are correctly identified, supported and protected in a timely manner.

We are concerned that the proposals will fail to create a coherent asylum support system which meets the needs of asylum seeking individuals and families in the UK. This means that destitution will remain a feature of the UK asylum system, at great cost to individuals and to society.

In response to the particular proposals in this consultation paper, we urge the government to:

1. Commit to ending destitution as a feature of the UK asylum system by providing asylum support in cash to all those who have claimed asylum until they are granted status or leave the country.
2. Retain cash support for families, and do not introduce the payment card for refused asylum seeking families who are currently supported under section 95.
3. Retain a right of appeal for all those whose application for asylum support is turned down.
4. Invest in better quality decisions and access to independent legal advice early in the asylum process.

	Refugee Council response to the UKBA consultation Reforming asylum support: effective support for those with protection needs
	Completed pro-forma sent by Refugee Council to the UKBA