Unions Work for Refugees and Asylum Seekers Jim Laird Manager COSLA Refugee and Asylum Seeker Consortium
What is an Asylum Seeker? person who has applied for asylum in the UK A having fled abuse or persecution in their own country This includes those who may be entitled to protection under article 3 of the ECHR The individual remains an asylum seeker until their application is determined
What is a Refugee? by the Home Office of an asylum Recognition seeker as a refugee under the 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees Person has been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain/Enter, Humanitarian or Discretionary Leave to Remain
Who seeks asylum in Scotland? has a long history of migration and has Scotland accepted people fleeing persecution for many years Recent examples include; Chileans in the 70s Vietnamese in the 80s Bosnians in the early 90s Kosovans in the late 90s
Scotland's involvement to April 2000, outwith Government Prior programmes, between 200 and 300 asylum seekers arrived in Scotland each year Just over half went to Edinburgh Less than half came to Glasgow Others to various towns and cities in small numbers
Glasgow's participation accommodation and support services Provided during Kosovan Humanitarian Evacuation Programme Only place in the UK to offer people their own accommodation rather than centres Widely regarded as providing the best service in the UK during that Programme
Glasgow's participation most generous local authority support Provided system in the UK for assisting asylum seekers prior to April 2000 100% of Income Support level paid Rest of Scotland paid 90% Other parts of the UK paid less and some used vouchers!
Glasgow's participation 2000 contracted with London Asylum Early Seekers Consortium to accommodate 600 families to help take pressure off of London Boroughs Less than 150 arrived, exercise not successful National Asylum Support Service asked for unused accommodation Home Secretary has powers to force local authorities to accommodate asylum seekers
Glasgow's participation lengthy and detailed negotiations Glasgow After contracted with National Asylum Support Service 2000 family units of accommodation 500 single units of accommodation Language clusters agreed No special needs because of suitability of accommodation
Glasgow' success? number of positive asylum application High decisions in the city 75% successful Many want to stay on in Glasgow about 40% of those successful Evidence of refugees from other parts of the UK now coming to Scotland, and Glasgow in particular
Glasgow's success? now widely regarded as having some of Glasgow the best practice in the UK Education Health Policing initiatives Employment Other indicators of successful integration