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Reform Of Section 4 Support For Asylum Seekers

EDM number 2487 in 2005-06, proposed by Lynne Jones on 03/07/2006.

That this House notes that since 2003 there has been a 15-fold increase in the number of failed asylum seekers in receipt of Section 4 support, on the basis that they are temporarily unable to leave the UK for reasons beyond their control; further notes that the Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB) evidence briefing of June 2006 reports that the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) failed to respond adequately to this increase and, during 2005, delay and error in processing applications and delivery of support became commonplace, resulting in numerous cases of avoidable destitution; recalls that the Section 4 regime, set up in 2000 was intended as a short-term and discretionary support system for a very small number of hard cases but notes it is now a large-scale and largely long-term regime; further notes that the CAB reports that NASS has begun to address the administrative failures that have led to this situation but remains concerned that reform is needed to remove hardship; and therefore calls on the Home Office to incorporate CAB's recommendations on Section 4 into its New Asylum Model, including that all Section 4 subsistence support be provided in cash with supported individuals given full access to free NHS treatment, that all pregnant failed asylum seekers should be entitled to Section 4 support and accommodation, irrespective of the length of pregnancy and that supported individuals who are also subject to Immigration Service reporting conditions should have full access to the scheme for payment of associated travel expenses.

This motion has been signed by a total of 33 MPs.

MPDateConstituencyPartyType
Lynne Jones03/07/2006Birmingham, Selly OakLabourProposed
Jeremy Corbyn04/07/2006Islington NorthLabourSeconded
Glenda Jackson04/07/2006Hampstead and HighgateLabourSeconded
John McDonnell05/07/2006Hayes and HarlingtonLabourSeconded
Ronnie Campbell05/07/2006Blyth ValleyLabourSeconded
Ian Gibson06/07/2006Norwich NorthLabourSeconded
Alan Simpson06/07/2006Nottingham SouthLabourSigned
Kelvin Hopkins06/07/2006Luton NorthLabourSigned
David Drew06/07/2006StroudLabourSigned
Bill Etherington06/07/2006Sunderland NorthLabourSigned
Keith Vaz06/07/2006Leicester EastLabourSigned
Rudi Vis06/07/2006Finchley and Golders GreenLabourSigned
Robert Wareing06/07/2006Liverpool, West DerbyLabourSigned
Evan Harris10/07/2006Oxford West and AbingdonLiberal DemocratSigned
David Heyes10/07/2006Ashton-under-LyneLabourSigned
Karen Buck10/07/2006Regent's Park and Kensington NorthLabourSigned
Ann Cryer11/07/2006KeighleyLabourSigned
Elfyn Llwyd12/07/2006Meirionnydd Nant ConwyPlaid CymruSigned
Martin Caton12/07/2006GowerLabourSigned
John Bercow12/07/2006BuckinghamConservativeSigned
Alasdair McDonnell14/07/2006Belfast SouthSocial Democratic and Labour PartySigned
Richard Younger-Ross14/07/2006TeignbridgeLiberal DemocratSigned
Tony Lloyd17/07/2006Manchester CentralLabourSigned
Mark Fisher17/07/2006Stoke-on-Trent CentralLabourSigned
John Battle17/07/2006Leeds WestLabourSigned
Neil Gerrard18/07/2006WalthamstowLabourSigned
Joan Ruddock25/07/2006Lewisham, DeptfordLabourSigned
Eric Illsley25/07/2006Barnsley CentralLabourSigned
Jim Cousins25/07/2006Newcastle upon Tyne CentralLabourSigned
Sarah Teather25/07/2006Brent EastLiberal DemocratSigned
Hywel Williams25/07/2006CaernarfonPlaid CymruSigned
Roger Godsiff09/10/2006Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small HeathLabourSigned
Kerry McCarthy09/10/2006Bristol EastLabourSigned

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