Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The government has decided to prohibit asylum seekers from using taxis for medical appointments starting in February. This policy shift follows a BBC investigation that revealed instances of asylum seekers traveling excessively long distances via taxis or minicabs. One example cited involved a 250-mile taxi trip to a GP appointment, which reportedly cost the Home Office around £600. In light of these findings, an urgent government review was initiated in September to assess and manage the expenses and utilization of taxi services transporting asylum seekers from accommodation to appointments.
New data disclosed that the government spends approximately £15.8 million annually on transport for asylum seekers. Earlier in the year, investigations by BBC Radio 4’s File on Four uncovered that asylum seekers were provided with bus passes for a single return journey per week, with taxis being used for other necessary trips like medical visits. One taxi driver recounted to the BBC that his company handled up to 15 daily trips from a hotel in southeast London to nearby medical facilities, costing the Home Office about £1,000 each day. Another driver, who identified himself as Steve, described how providers sometimes artificially inflated mileage by dispatching drivers from distant locations to perform short journeys.
Steve explained on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme how he was occasionally sent on lengthy trips without passengers, such as travelling from Gatwick Airport to Reading—about 110 miles round trip—at a cost exceeding £100 to transport an asylum seeker only 1.5 miles to a dentist appointment. He also said that while subcontracted, he made trips from Gatwick to Southampton multiple times and typically drove 275 miles daily, with half of those miles occurring without passengers. He highlighted inefficiencies, including instances where asylum seekers refused to travel, which he attributed to inadequate logistical planning and opportunities for exploitation.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood addressed these concerns, announcing restrictions on the unrestricted use of taxis, permitting them only in exceptional situations. She stated, “I am ending the unrestricted use of taxis by asylum seekers for hospital appointments, authorising them only in the most exceptional circumstances.” Mahmood noted the government inherited costly contracts from the previous Conservative administration and emphasized a move towards encouraging the use of public transportation wherever possible. Exceptions to the new taxi policy will still be granted for individuals with physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, or pregnancy-related conditions, but these require Home Office approval.
Taxis may continue to be used for specific purposes, such as transferring asylum seekers between accommodations, but ministers are conducting a wider review to ensure taxi usage remains strictly limited and supported by evidence. The government has also committed to ending the use of asylum hotels before the next general election, favoring alternative housing options like large military facilities. Despite these political commitments, recent figures show that over 36,000 people remain housed in asylum hotels, a number that has increased compared to earlier this year. Rising costs associated with running asylum accommodation have faced criticism, and while options like contract break clauses are being considered, alternative housing arrangements would necessarily need to be found.
Further reforms to the asylum system have been announced, including making refugee status temporary and ending guaranteed housing support for asylum seekers. The government has recovered £74 million since taking office, but the chair of the home affairs select committee described this as only a preliminary step. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticized the Labour party’s handling of the situation, accusing them of lacking the resolve to address illegal immigration. He said, “The issue is that Labour can’t get a grip on the illegal immigration crisis… Until that happens, the bills will keep mounting.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.