Clause 39 - Choice of form of support
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill
12:00 pm
Ms Angela Eagle (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office; Wallasey, Labour)
I look forward to our debate about ''may'' or ''must''.
The hon. Gentleman believes that all those seeking asylum should have a choice between dispersal and an accommodation centre, or should be able to second-
guess the Secretary of State's decision about where they will be supported. We must ensure flexibility so that we can make the best use of the different methods of support, while they run in tandem. If accommodation centres succeed and become the norm, there may be no alternative for individuals to choose. We are currently running two systems in parallel, as we are trialling these new centres, but it is important that destitute asylum seekers should not be able to choose particular forms of support. The Committee will agree that it would be nonsense for accommodation centres to run at half capacity because people have chosen dispersal. We are here not to give that choice, but to facilitate quick decisions on asylum claims so that we meet our international commitments to support asylum seekers.
The hon. Gentleman's amendment would make it difficult for us to manage our arrangements effectively and efficiently, especially as they are currently running in parallel. We try to ensure that we make choices for individuals that support them, which is all that the Geneva convention obliges us to do. The amendment would cause administrative havoc, and might result in the system being run at a greater cost than necessary. It also risks creating a gap at the start of the process prior to allocation to a particular place for support, which under the 1999 Act was filled by emergency accommodation while people disputed dispersal. That is an expensive, difficult and highly undesirable way to proceed. The Committee should recognise that we fulfil our commitments under the Geneva convention, which do not involve giving asylum seekers a choice between dispersal or accommodation centres. It is important to avoid that situation, so that we can trial the system effectively.