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The transportation of asylum seekers from hotels to appointments via taxis is under scrutiny by the home secretary, leading to an urgent review. Shabana Mahmood’s decision comes in the wake of a BBC investigation that highlighted the high costs involved in these journeys, often spanning long distances and costing hundreds of pounds for the Home Office.
An asylum seeker shared their experience of a 250-mile journey to visit a GP, revealing that the trip cost £600 according to the driver. While asylum seekers receive a bus pass for one weekly return journey, taxis are called for additional essential travel such as medical appointments.
Following a Freedom of Information Act request to the government about spending on taxi travel for asylum seekers, the Home Office stated that such figures are not tracked. The process of booking taxis for asylum seekers involves showing proof of appointments at hotel reception desks, with limited options for public transport or walking, resulting in varying journey lengths.
Despite concerns raised by various officials, including Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden and housing minister Matthew Pennycook, about the necessity and cost of these taxi journeys, the issue remains unresolved. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticized the high expenditures on taxi rides for migrants, emphasizing the strain on resources for essential services. The living conditions of asylum seekers in hotels have also come under scrutiny, with reports of cramped spaces, illegal work, and inadequate facilities
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