Scotland's local authorities have met with voluntary agencies to draw up plans to deal with new legislation on asylum seekers.

Under the Asylum and Immigration Act, which comes into force in April, the number of refugees sent to Scotland will be increased.

The impending legislation has led to the setting up of a consortium by the local authorities in an effort to ensure a common Scottish response.

They say it will ensure accommodation is available and that services such as social work, education and health provision are adequate.

Faced with mounting refugee numbers, the Home Office is seeking to ease the pressure on authorities in the south east of England by sending refugees elsewhere in Britain.

The act will see the creation of a centre in Croydon where decisions will be made on which parts of the UK refugees are sent to.

However, a cross party group of members of the Scottish Parliament has expressed reservations about the centralised nature of the decision-making process and other aspects of the act.

'Imposed legislation'

They are particularly concerned about what they see as Scots legislation forced in by the Westminster parliament which will mean refugees can only be given vouchers to help them buy food and provisions.

Scottish National Party MSP, Shona Robison, said: "The issue of the vouchers is the main area of concern.

"We feel the introduction of vouchers is very demeaning. It is not yet clear whether refugees will have to go to a particular supermarket to stand in a vouchers queue.

"We would like the current arrangements to continue - where refugees get income support in cash which is administered through local authorities.

"I think we can handle these numbers, but our concern is that we make sure that they are treated well and have enough money to live on.

"I don't want to see refugees walking the streets and begging for money after having left accommodation because of its poor condition."

Judicial review

There is widespread opposition to vouchers and pressure for a delay in the legislation to allow a judicial review to examine if cash payments can be restored.

This could bring Edinburgh into direct conflict with Westminster, especially as it is being suggested that payments to refugees in Scotland could be higher than the value of the vouchers given by the Home Office in England.

The MSPs say they want see a year's delay in the implementation of the act in Scotland, allowing time to debate the issue and produce, if the law permits, a distinctive Scottish approach to the matter.

They believe Scotland should have a greater say given the inevitable implications for the country's social services and housing.