Section 55 reinstated

NASS on the afternoon of *Tuesday of last week issued new RANS (Restricted Access to NASS Support ) questionnaire forms. They are again assessing applications and issuing decisions on whether or not to allow asylum seekers access to support.

NASS have rewritten the RANS form. From now on, screening interviews will be more in-depth and the decision makers will have to make a more rigorous examination of the information faxed to them ( this is to comply with Justice Collin's judgement on Wednesday 19th February 2003).

  Although the Home Office appeal will not be heard  until Monday next,  NASS are already issuing letters to all those asylum seekers who since the judges decision were given a 'holding decision' . This allows them access to support and  requires them to report for a new screening interview.  Individuals and families in emergency accommodation all round the UK will have to attend these new interviews but will not be given travel expenses.

The Inter Agency Coordination Team (ICT) on behalf of the Inter Agency Partnership (IAP) ** have raised a number of  concerns about these developments and have issued a document 'Reinstatement of RANS decisions' which can be downloaded as a word document:

'Reinstatement of RANS decisions: Word doc.

Notes:
*On Thursday 20th February 2003, pending the Section 55 appeal on Monday 3rd March, NASS suspended issuing negative decisions . 5 days later they reinstated them.
** ICT and AIT bring together the 'One Stop Services' and agencies working with asylum seekers.

Background Section 55

http://www.ncadc.org.uk/letters/newszine31/55.html

http://www.ncadc.org.uk/letters/newszine31/sus55.html

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In other news:

Cabinet Minister Excludes Asylum Seekers

Minister for Transport John Spellar has decided to exclude asylum seekers from receiving advice from him by not letting them attend any of his constituency surgeries. He is refusing to see asylum seekers because he says there are to many of them and they are causing delays in dealing with habitual residents of his constituency. A vetting procedure has been introduced, where only registered voters will have access to the MP.

The move has been condemned by the Refugee Council, who think the policy will disenfranchise the most vulnerable people in Mr. Spellar's constituency and is likely to reinforce the negative image of asylum seekers.

MP Peter Lilley speaking in the 'Refugee Benefits' debate in Westminster Hall yesterday said: Opposition Members sometimes clash with the Prime Minister during Question Time. I was astonished by how many Members, not least Labour Members, said that the issue of immigration and related matters is becoming bigger in their constituencies, that people are angry about some issues and that there is a danger of that anger fuelling the growth of extremist parties, or even being vented directly on immigrant communities. Today, we hear reports of a Labour Minister pandering to those feelings by saying that he will no longer deal with asylum seekers at his surgery.

Guardian report Minister bars asylum seekers from surgery

'Refugee Benefits' debate Word Doc