1. There is a 'flood'
of asylum seekers
Not true
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Of 20 million refugees in the world today
only 0.16% of these applied for asylum in the UK last year.
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10% of the world's refugees are in Europe.
Less than 1% reside in the UK
2. The majority
of claims are 'bogus'
Wrong again
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Before the current restrictive immigration
policies were introduced, 87% of asylum applications were found to be genuine.
Despite harsher policies 54% of applications are still accepted.
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In 1990 there were 15 asylum applications
from former Yugoslavia. In 1998 the figure stood at 17,980 as war
broke out. People are not choosing to leave home but are forced
to flee persecution and human rights abuses.
3. The UK is
a 'soft touch'
Far from it
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Over 9000 asylum seekers are held in detention
in the UK, (more than in any other European country), half of these in
prisons - most of them have committed no offence
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The last three major asylum laws ensure asylum
seekers have less to live on, fewer rights to appeal and often only 5 days
to make their application.
4. They are
'defrauding' our benefits system
Very difficult to do
-
Asylum seekers are no longer entitled to welfare
and receive only 70% of income support levels, forcing them to live below
the poverty line.
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The food voucher system means an adult asylum
seeker has only £10 cash per week for travel and other needs.
5. Britain cannot
afford asylum seekers.
It can, easily
-
Tony Blair said in Parliament that asylum
seekers cost 0.2% of government expenditure. The cost to the taxpayer
is 10p per week.
-
What costs money is the slow and inefficient
asylum system in the UK which can keep families waiting 27 months for a
decision
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Reaching safety in the UK is harder than ever
for a person fleeing persecution. Asylum seekers are now being scapegoated
by politicians and are subjected to racist attacks which have increased
in this country by 89% this year. We should welcome asylum seekers
and the valuable contribution they make to our society.
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