Asylum Seekers

Rev Bob Pounder proposing motion

Unitarians have expressed their serious concerns about the treatment of Destitute Asylum Seekers to Damian Green MP Minister of State for Immigration at the Home Office

The following Resolution, proposed by Oldham Unitarian Chapel, was approved by the Annual Meeting of the General Assembly in Swansea, Wales on 17 April 2011:

"That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches:

[1] applauds this statement concerning asylum seekers by Kate Wareing, Director, UK Poverty, Oxfam on February 4th, 2011:

"Thousands of people are being forced into destitution as a result of government policies. We must end the policies that lead to destitution, and are unacceptable in the sixth richest country in the world".

[2] recognises that such destitution affects tens of thousands of people currently resident in the United Kingdom;

[3] holds that the United Kingdom government should change policies which lead to destitution and should ensure a fair, efficient asylum system which protects the rights and dignity of all who use it.

[4] requests its Chief Officer to write to the Immigration Minister recommending that the United Kingdom government should:

[4a] provide destitute asylum seekers with support to meet essential living needs: either until they are returned to their country of origin or they are given permission to remain within the United Kingdom;

[4b] provide free access to healthcare for all asylum seekers while they are in the United Kingdom;

[4c] grant asylum seekers permission to work if their case has not been resolved within six months or they have been refused, but temporarily cannot be returned through no fault of their own;

[4d] improve decision making and ensure that all those in need of protection receive it.

[5] encourages Unitarian and Free Christian congregations and every individual Unitarian to write to their own MPs in furtherance of these proposals."

Implementation of the measures, as set out in [4a] to [4d], by the United Kingdom Government would go some way to redress the current inequitable and unjust situation.

For further information on the Unitarian Campaign to support Destitute Asylum seekers please go to www.unitarian.org.uk/info/asylum.shtml

For details of Oldham Unitarian's campaign go to: www.ukunitarians.org.uk/oldham/asylumindex.htm.


For further information contact Derek McAuley, Chief Officer

To send Derek McAuley Chief Officer a message please click here.