Councils throughout Britain reacted with dismay this week after an apparent government U-turn looks set to leave them shouldering the financial burden of housing asylum seekers
The Home Office admitted that it would not be taking on full responsibility for all asylum seekers from 1 April as originally promised.

Immigration minister Barbara Roche instead announced a phasing-in of the National Asylum Support Service - and offered local authorities an additional £10m for this financial year to soften the blow.

But organisations representing authorities insist that front line services are still likely to suffer without more funding becoming available.

People who make their asylum applications at port - the minority of cases - will become the responsibility of the Home Office under the new scheme, while those who apply in country will remain under local authority charge.

On last year's figures this would mean authorities would still handle 41,700 cases - nearly 60 per cent of all arrivals. The Home Office would deal with 29,455 cases.

Roche claimed the decision was the most sensible course of action. "The arrangements have been tested in simulated trials," she said. "Bringing port applicants onto the scheme first will enable the National Asylum Support Service to deal with any teething difficulties before rolling out the scheme fully."

However, councils are desperate for the responsibility and costs to be taken off their hands. Since 6 December, the Local Government Association-run voluntary dispersal scheme has moved just 1,500 cases out of the under-pressure south east.

Teething troubles, such as transport and translation difficulties, have been reported by many councils. The East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside and the North West have all told of delays in filling accommodation.

The LGA criticised the government for failing to assure councils they will be fully reimbursed for looking after asylum seekers. "The £10m for this financial year is a welcome addition for local authorities dealing with asylum seekers, but we need to see more commitment about funding from April onwards," a spokeswoman said.

The Association of London Government's Labour chair Toby Harris supported the minister, acknowledging in a statement "the difficulties in switching to a new, untried system".

He added: "However, I am extremely concerned that the London boroughs will continue to shoulder an unfair financial burden during this key transitional period."

Source

Housing Today