Local authorities should be given greater oversight of accommodation used to house asylum seekers to ensure a decent standard of living for all, an SNP MP has said.
Stuart McDonald, the party's immigration spokesman, has called on Rishi Sunak to use today's mini Budget to increase funding used to support those who claim asylum in the UK.
The MP wants to see an immediate uplift of the asylum support allowance – a £20 increase in line with Universal Credit - so asylum seekers have the financial support they need.
It follows claims that asylum seekers in Glasgow are being placed in "stinking" flats and prevented from sharing complaints about their treatment to the press.
Mears - company which houses asylum seekers in Scotland - is gradually rehousing people after it was heavily criticised for “warehousing” them in hotels during the pandemic.
The SNP said asylum support was now lower than it was 14 years ago, making it difficult for people to follow advice and guidance on isolation and distancing.
It was previously set at 70% of income support rates but has been allowed to fall to barely over 50% by successive UK governments.
McDonald said: “Boris Johnson promised back in March that asylum seekers would receive the support they need – but they are still increasingly being left struggling and in limbo in the middle of a public health crisis.
“The UK Chancellor must announce that the asylum support rate will be increased by £20, the callous no recourse to public funds rules will be scrapped and that the Home Office will provide direct funding for local authorities to specifically support asylum seekers, as well as give them oversight of asylum accommodation to ensure it is fit for purpose.
"Everyone in the UK should have the right to the support they need.
"The SNP has repeatedly raised serious concerns with Tory ministers about the treatment of asylum seekers - including the recent decision to forcibly move hundreds of refugees into Glasgow city centre hotels without any consultation or financial support.
“Coronavirus does not discriminate based on immigration status and nor should the UK government. Right now it is allowing asylum seekers to be left vulnerable and left behind. Given that the Prime Minister made clear that everyone should have support, the UK government must now follow through on that commitment.”
