MPs have called for more councils to take in asylum seekers five months after local authorities dismissed suggestions they were ‘not pulling their weight’.
The Home Affairs Committee said the current system of allowing local authorities to take in asylum seekers voluntarily was leading to a situation where claimants were concentrated in a small number of the most deprived areas.
MPs called for ‘immediate action’ to be taken to encourage all local authorities to take their share of asylum seekers, including increased funding and greater flexibility so councils could have more control over the location of hostels.
‘Even where the accommodation and support are of a good standard, it is still far too concentrated in the most deprived areas,’ said committee chair Yvette Cooper.
‘It is completely unfair on those local authorities and communities that have signed up and are now taking many more people when so many local authorities in more affluent areas are still doing nothing at all.’
The report also warned the funding for asylum seekers’ accommodation was much lower than for the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Scheme, leading to a two-tier system for refugees once asylum claims were concluded.
Chairman of the Local Government Association’s asylum, migration and refugee task group, Cllr David Simmonds, insisted councils had a ‘strong track record’ in helping asylum seekers and refugees.
‘Councils are stepping up to the plate with more than 200 local authorities becoming dispersal areas,’ he said.
‘We hope that the Government’s future contracts for asylum accommodation and support addresses the challenges in securing accommodation in other local authority areas, particularly where there is limited availability and high cost housing.
‘Councils are clear that continuing to have voluntary participation in these schemes is the best approach to meeting the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in their communities, and ensuring these communities are fully prepared to welcome new arrivals.’
