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09/06/2004
Blunkett to place further restrictions on asylum applicants
Asylum seekers who are not granted permission to live in the UK, but who cannot leave immediately, will have to do community work under plans set out by the Home Secretary today.
Proposed amendments to the Asylum and Immigration Bill would see the appeal process for removing British citizenship and removing people from the UK speeded up, and the substitution of the current system of back payments of income support to refugees with a loan system that would "help with integration".
Other amendments would see those given permission to stay being restricted access to social housing in the south east – so as to "relieve housing pressure". The rules allowing entry to the country by marriage or for study will also be tightened up.
Home Secretary David Blunkett said that the measures will "prevent abuse of immigration laws", while underlining the government's commitment to providing support to refugees so they can make a full contribution.
"I remain committed to providing a safe haven to those fleeing persecution and helping refugees to integrate and contribute to our society," he said.
"People who have been granted refugee status, citizenship or are being supported by the taxpayer must recognise that with these rights come responsibilities and support to those unable to return must be dependent on them giving something back to the community."
However, the Tories have hit out at the Home Secretary claiming that the proposals were panic measures being rushed out by a government with one eye on the local elections.
The Tory shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said that the government was countering an asylum situation which it had created.
He added: "Labour's incompetent management of Britain's asylum system caused the crisis in the first place.
"We welcome the fact they at last seem to be taking the problem seriously, and some of these measures may make sense. However, announcing hastily drawn up measures at the last minute hardly inspires confidence. This is entirely characteristic of Labour's incompetent and shambolic approach to asylum and immigration issues."
The relevant parts of the Bill will now be scrutinised by the House of Lords.
(gmcg)
Proposed amendments to the Asylum and Immigration Bill would see the appeal process for removing British citizenship and removing people from the UK speeded up, and the substitution of the current system of back payments of income support to refugees with a loan system that would "help with integration".
Other amendments would see those given permission to stay being restricted access to social housing in the south east – so as to "relieve housing pressure". The rules allowing entry to the country by marriage or for study will also be tightened up.
Home Secretary David Blunkett said that the measures will "prevent abuse of immigration laws", while underlining the government's commitment to providing support to refugees so they can make a full contribution.
"I remain committed to providing a safe haven to those fleeing persecution and helping refugees to integrate and contribute to our society," he said.
"People who have been granted refugee status, citizenship or are being supported by the taxpayer must recognise that with these rights come responsibilities and support to those unable to return must be dependent on them giving something back to the community."
However, the Tories have hit out at the Home Secretary claiming that the proposals were panic measures being rushed out by a government with one eye on the local elections.
The Tory shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said that the government was countering an asylum situation which it had created.
He added: "Labour's incompetent management of Britain's asylum system caused the crisis in the first place.
"We welcome the fact they at last seem to be taking the problem seriously, and some of these measures may make sense. However, announcing hastily drawn up measures at the last minute hardly inspires confidence. This is entirely characteristic of Labour's incompetent and shambolic approach to asylum and immigration issues."
The relevant parts of the Bill will now be scrutinised by the House of Lords.
(gmcg)
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