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Wednesday, 17 November 2010 |
 Dornan expresses concern at UKBA claim
Written Questions at Westminster and a letter from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) that Glasgow City Council invited the UKBA to terminate the accommodation contract during negotiations have come to the attention of the Glasgow SNP Council Group.
SNP Leader of the Opposition, Councillor James Dornan said: “The ongoing concern over the future accommodation of our asylum seekers is becoming more and more serious by the day. The SNP Group in Glasgow remains committed to the united campaign to reverse the decision of the UKBA to terminate the accommodation contract and save the 42 jobs at Blindcraft that are at risk from this decision, we are extremely concerned by this latest claim by the UKBA.
“I have heard nothing from the Council that suggests they wished to terminate the contract, which has only added pressure to those already in an extremely pressurised existence and I am sure the council will repudiate this comment immediately. However, no matter who terminated the contract, the safety and security of the vulnerable entrusted to our city must remain our top priority and I urge Glasgow City Council and the UKBA to get back round the table forthwith to bring to a satisfactorily and speedy conclusion this whole unfortunate situation”.
Notes:
- Asylum Seekers accommodated in Glasgow received a letter, dated Friday 5 November 2010 announcing that the contract between Glasgow City Council and the UKBA was to be terminated.
- Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside Glasgow City Chambers this morning (Monday 15 November 2010).
- Members of the SNP Group on Glasgow City Council joined the protestors, as well as Glasgow’s four SNP list MSPs (Bob Doris MSP, Bill Kidd MSP, Anne McLaughlin MSP and Sandra White MSP)
- Councillor Dornan addressed the crowd from the podium as one of several speakers.
- The City Council’s political groups – excepting the conservatives – signed a joint letter calling on the UK Government to reverse the decision to terminate the accommodation contract.
- A special paper was debated and approved at the Council’s Executive Committee of Thursday 11 November 2010.
- The written answers at Westminster can be found here.
- An email response from Phil Taylor, regional director of the UKBA in Scotland and Northern Ireland, received on Monday 15 November is appended, below.
From: Taylor Phil (BIA Scotland & Northern Ireland)
To:
Sent: Mon, 15 November, 2010 15:56:22
Subject: RE: Disgraceful decision
Dear ,
Thank you for you e-mail.
We share the City Council’s wish that these changes are handled sensitively taking full account of individual circumstances and will continue to work closely with them to ensure the transition is handled as smoothly as possible and disruption is kept to a minimum. Letters have been sent to all asylum seekers currently housed by Glasgow City Council, explaining what could happen if they are required to move accommodation and further communication is planned to keep asylum seekers advised of future developments. We are very hopeful that the majority of the asylum seekers affected by this change of contract will remain in their current accommodation. If a move to new accommodation is required we will aim to give at least 14 days notice, where possible, and the costs of the move will fall to the new accommodation provider and not to the asylum seekers themselves. The UK Border Agency and Glasgow City Council held discussions over a period of months to review the asylum housing contract. Despite UK Border Agency offering an increase on what are, already, the highest accommodation charges in the UK outside London we were unable to reach an agreement. Glasgow City Council invited UK Border Agency to terminate the contract and contractually we were left with no other option but to do so.
I remain hopeful that the vast majority of service users will not have to move at all but that will depend to a large extent on how discussions go with Glasgow City Council.
Yours sincerely,
Phil Taylor
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