Social workers and charities unite to slam asylum bill

Many children could end up homeless and sleeping rough under the
government’s plans in the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment
of Claimants etc) Bill, social workers and children’s
charities have warned, writes Clare
Jerrom.

Under clause seven of the legislation, due to be debated in the
House of Commons this week, families whose asylum claims have
failed will have support removed which could force them into
destitution.

The British Association of Social Workers has joined force with
the Refugee Children’s Consortium to call for the plans to be
halted. They believe parents will not want to risk asking for help
and families will end up sleeping rough.

Jacqui McCluskey, policy officer of NCH, a member of the
consortium, said: “It is completely hypocritical to say that
every child matters in the Green Paper in one breath, yet deprive
children whose asylum claims have failed of even the basic rights
and protection in the other.”

Ian Johnston, director of BASW also warned that the clause
“completely undermines” the role of social work and
would place pressure on social services departments “to
consider separating refugee families for an entirely inappropriate
reason”.

The group believes the plans are “dangerous and
immoral” and want clause seven removed.

The consortium is made up of non-governmental organisations
including Save The Children, Refugee Arrivals Project, Bail for
Immigration Detainees and Barnardo’s.