Government tables late amendments.

Refugees will only be eligible for social housing in the areas they
have been dispersed to, under new government plans.

The plans, designed to ease pressure on London and the South East,
are part of a group of amendments to the Asylum and Immigration
(Treatment of Claimants, etc) Bill tabled by the government last
week.

Other proposals include forcing failed asylum seekers who are
unable to return home to carry out community work in order to
qualify for support.

The government also plans to stop refugees from being able to claim
back-payments of income support and to create a loan system
instead.

The Refugee Council expressed concern at the number of late
amendments to the bill, warning that late amendments were often
“ill-conceived and do not receive adequate parliamentary scrutiny”.

The amendments were due to be discussed at the bill’s committee
stage in the House of Lords this week.