THE Scottish Government has committed to developing a strategy to stop migrants and refused refugees – who have no recourse to public funds due to the UK Government’s immigration rules – becoming destitute.
Politicians and campaigners have raised increasing concerns about the plight of hundreds of destitute migrants who are often unable to work or to access support. Some claim it is not safe to return to their home countries after asylum claims are refused. In other cases, migrant women fleeing domestic violence have found themselves destitute and unable to access refugee accommodation or claim benefits for themselves and their children.
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The Scottish Government confirmed it would act in last Thursday’s budget. Developing an anti‑destitution strategy covering people with no recourse to public funds was highlighted as a priority in a new Connecting Communities budget strand.
Dozens of refused refugees are still awaiting eviction by Serco and charities claim they are seeing an increased number of people forced to sleep rough. Those without recourse to public funds cannot access homeless services. Concerns have also been raised about destitute people’s vulnerability to exploitation, so-called survival sex, and trafficking.
Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central (above), said: “The commitment by the Scottish Government to developing an anti-destitution strategy is a significant step. It underlines Scotland’s commitment to building cohesive communities and recognising and valuing diversity.
“I regularly see constituents at my surgeries who – despite living and working in the UK for many years, raising families here, and contributing greatly to their communities – are deemed ineligible to receive recourse to public funds.
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“In some cases, I have had to fight tooth and nail for financial support to be paid to children born in the UK, simply because their parent or parents have come here from another country.”
She claimed in other cases migrants with permission to work were working seven days a week trying to make ends meet, but were refused the financial assistance they were entitled to. This, she claimed, was “pure malevolence, and shows the true colours of the Home Office’s hostile environment”.
She said the fact that the Scottish Government was forced to mitigate “the damage done by this heartless Tory UK Government” was “appalling”. “If ministers are not willing to listen to our concerns, they must devolve powers around immigration to Scotland to let us get on with the job”.
Annika Joy, project director of the Glasgow Night Shelter, said its staff and guests had been involved in the consultation for the development of Scotland’s anti-destitution strategy. “We are delighted to see it’s mentioned in the budget.
“We desperately hope that the people the team met, who shared their trauma and experiences of rough sleeping, exploitation, and survival decisions expecting that action would follow, will be honoured.”
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