IPPR welcomes Canada-style refugee sponsorship but warns asylum debt scheme could backfire

Responding to the government’s immigration and asylum bill, Marley Morris, IPPR associate director for migration, trade and communities, said:

“An ambitious reform agenda is vital to support refugee integration, bring down the costs of asylum accommodation, and make the system work for communities across the UK. But the legislation announced today presents a mixed picture.

“Appeals reform is vital to speed up decision making and close asylum hotels. But the devil will be in the detail: the key test for the new independent immigration appeals authority will be whether it can deliver fast and fair decisions, alongside access to adequate legal advice.

“On the other hand, proposals to claw back the cost of asylum support from newly recognised refugees risk undermining integration. Requiring some of the most vulnerable people to begin repaying up to £10,000 once they enter work could weaken incentives to take up employment without raising much money for the Home Office.

”Alongside the bill, the newly announced Canada-style route for refugee sponsorship is a welcome development which will empower communities to support refugees themselves and help to save money for the taxpayer. This community-centred approach should be at the heart of the government’s new integration strategy."