Asylum seekers should be given support

Asylum seekers refused permission to live in the UK but unable to return to their country of origin should be allowed to work and access health care, a report by a Conservative think-tank said. The Centre for Social Justice proposes setting up a new independent body to rule on asylum claims, made up of a panel of magistrates, with charities and voluntary groups providing support to immigrants until they are returned home or integrated into society. Unsuccessful applicants should continue to receive housing and financial support for up to six months pending their removal. The think-tank found there was a backlog of 280,000 failed applications, which could take 20 years to clear, and added that many of those refused applications face destitution or disappear, drifting into illegal employment, prostitution or crime.