THE UK government has suspended plans to force refugees in Scotland to travel to Liverpool in order to appeal to stay in the UK.
The change to the asylum process, which was revealed in The Sunday Herald last month, would have applied to penniless asylum seekers appealing Home Office decisions after January 26.
The Sunday Herald has been told that the government shelved the plans after legal challenges from a Glasgow-based solicitor and Liverpool City Council.
However, a Home Office spokesman refused to confirm the position on the policy yesterday and campaigners fear that it could still be enforced at a later date.
Immigration policy is reserved to Westminster and current employment restrictions mean the majority of asylum seekers are not permitted to work.
They survive on food stamps and often have all support withdrawn when their application is rejected.
Charities which support asylum seekers said most won't have money to travel on public transport to Liverpool and could be deported as a result.
Liverpool City Council sought a court injunction last week amid fears that the city would be swamped by destitute refugees.
Mayor Joe Anderson said: "The Home Office itself says that there could be up to 100 interviews per week but in many cases it will not make appeal decisions on the day they attend for interview, meaning they will remain in the city because they have no money to return to where they have come from."
Glasgow-based immigration lawyer Fraser Latta also launched a legal challenge on the basis that the change could obstruct the applicant's rights under the Refugee Convention, the European Convention on Human Rights and the Qualification Directive.
He said: "The situation at the moment is that the Home Office has delayed their implementation of the policy ... There appears to be a two week grace period in place at the moment. We are monitoring the position closely, pending any further news from the Home Office."
Robina Qureshi, director of charity Positive Action in Housing, which offers support to refugees, said the delay is "the first victory in our fight to overturn the decision".
She added: "We are working closely with a team of lawyers and advocates, the Scottish Refugee Council and other campaigners to mount test cases and legal challenges."
Gary Christie, Head of Policy at Scottish Refugee Council, insisted the government must ditch the policy and allow refugees to continue to submit additional evidence by post or in person at an existing immigration office in Glasgow.
He said: "This policy presents a huge obstacle for people who are trying to receive a fair hearing on their claim for refugee protection.
"No expenses or support is provided to help people, who are often destitute and vulnerable, make this journey.
"Scottish Refugee Council and other charities in Glasgow regularly have to use our own overstretched resources.
"These are people who have survived unimaginable horrors in their home countries and who are often traumatised and disorientated by what they have experienced.
"Submitting further evidence and registering claims for protection in Scotland are vital if the UK is to have a fair, just and effective asylum system."
Scottish Government Communities Secretary Alex Neil wrote to Home Secretary Theresa May when the policy shift was revealed in the Sunday Herald on January 18.
Yesterday the MSP demanded that May ensures the change is "not just delayed but scrapped".
He said: "While we understand the need to improve the effectiveness of customer service in the Home Office, this proposal can only be seen as a backward step that will reduce access to the asylum appeal system for people in highly vulnerable situations."
A Home Office spokesman said: "We're not adding anything to the statement already provided last week and won't be providing a running commentary on operational matters."
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