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Government breaking EU law on asylum-seekers
July 26, 2002 12:00 AM
Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford, speaking to the Medway Racial Equality Council annual general meeting, has strongly criticised a Home Office decision made this week.
This banned all asylum-seekers from working, however long they have waited for a decision, while simultaneously announcing funding of £1 million for 'summer activities' to keep them occupied!
Sarah Ludford MEP, who is European Liberal Democrat justice & home affairs spokeswoman in the European Parliament fumed:
"This crazy decision is calculated to intensify the already damaging stereotype of 'scrounging' asylum-seekers, and indeed has already led to a screaming front page tabloid headline 'Asylum seekers' summer fun with your £1 million'."
"But I am also going to refer this decision to the European Commission as an apparent breach of EU law, which prohibits a complete 'no work' ban , so they could start to contribute and prepare to integrate. While the law only comes into force next year, it is breaking at least the spirit to breach its terms now."
Notes:
1. The Government has withdrawn a 'concession' which allowed asylum-seekers to work if there was no agreement on their case after 6 months. Successive governments - including Tory ones - have considered but rejected such a move because of the extra costs of support and because the public accepts that where possible asylum applicants should work to pay their way.
2. In April the EU Council of Minister agreed unanimously - therefore with full British consent - that asylum seekers must be allowed to work if they had no decision on their case after a year.
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