East Midlands: Food vouchers

Allister Craddock
The Politics Show
East Midlands

Many asylum seekers have agreed to return home

The East Midlands Politics Show investigates the impact of the Government's decision to reintroduce vouchers for failed asylum seekers.

About 5000 people now receive vouchers worth £35 a week, instead of cash.

Most of them are Iraqis who have signed forms agreeing to return home in order to qualify for the vouchers.

The Government acknowledges that they are unable to leave the UK "through no fault of their own".

But they say the voucher system is necessary to ensure that the level of support they receive "does not act as an incentive to remain in the UK".

Social Affairs Correspondent, Jeremy Ball talks to failed asylum seekers in Leicester about the hardship it is causing them.

One man, who only has one leg, describes how he has been expected to struggle three miles to the nearest outlet that will exchange his vouchers for food.

He is hoping to get money to cover his bus fare after appealing for extra help.

Under an amendment to be debated in the Commons next week, the Government is offering limited additional support to some failed asylum seekers.

This may include travel to medical appointments and essential supplies for new mothers.

But Refugee Action say the vouchers should be scrapped and replaced with cash.

They argue that the vouchers stigmatise people who are already vulnerable and who already struggle to get by.

Also on the Politics Show ...

Hi-speed rail link to go ahead?

We are on a fast track to the future as our political editor, John Hess, reports on a campaign to get the go-ahead for a £30bn high-speed rail link through the East Midlands.

Next week sees a special conference in Derby to promote the campaign. People in the city have a special reason to support it.

About 8,000 jobs in the area are dependent on the industry.

John Hess is live at Bombardier's factory in Derby. The company is one of Europe's leading train manufacturers.

He talks to Bombardier boss, Colin Walton, and the Labour MP for Derby North, Bob Laxton.

Hi-speed rail link to go ahead?

Will the sheer cost of the plan de-rail it? Or does it make sound economic and environmental sense?

That is the Politics Show Sunday 02 April 2006 at 12.00pm.

Join presenter Marie Ashby for the Politics Show on BBC One on Sundays.

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