Review findings in limbo

The Home Office has again refused to give a date for publication
of the findings of the review of the asylum seekers voucher
scheme.

In a House of Commons written answer to a question from
Aylesbury MP David Lidington earlier this week, the new junior Home
Office minister Angela Eagle said the department was “considering
the evidence” from the review and would announce its conclusions
“in due course”.

Meanwhile, a letter signed by the Local Government Association,
the British Medical Association, Oxfam, the Refugee Council, the
Transport and General Workers Union and children’s charities
Barnardo’s and Save the Children UK appeared in the Guardian last
week calling for “urgent consideration of the asylum vouchers
scheme” leading to “fundamental change”.

The review was announced in October 2000 following widespread
opposition to the scheme among refugee groups, service providers
and campaigners since its launch in April 2000. Campaigners had
originally expected the outcome of the review to be published at
the beginning of the year after tight deadlines were imposed on
submissions.