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 BBC Scotland's Eleanor Bradford"Some of the new refugees have been speaking about what they think of Glasgow so far"  real 28k Eleanor Bradford reports"Some local people have given the refugees a less than warm welcome"  real 28k |
People living in the tower blocks of the Sighthill area of the city were less than pleased to learn that 10 refugee families had been given homes next to them.
 David Comley: "Things will work out"
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But the council's David Comley defended the official line and said existing residents were not being neglected.
He explained the housing process: "What is happening with the refugee programme is that we provide furnished accommodation and various services including education.
"And it is the cost of that which we are reimbursed for from the government."
Thousands more refugees
Mr Comley said he sympathised with local residents but felt the situation would work out in the long run.
"I can understand there is some concern locally, but our experience in the past has been that once people settle in the area, once the arrivals get to know the community and once the children go to school, there is more acceptance on both sides," said Mr Comley.
The city will accept another 2,500 asylum seekers and their relatives as part of the UK Government's attempt to ease the burden on the south-east of England.
This is in addition to the 600 asylum seekers and their relatives already due to come to Scotland.
Under a separate agreement, the extra families will be given vouchers to pay for their living expenses, plus a £10 cash payment every week.
 Glasgow City Council has resolved the earlier mix-up
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The voucher system to be used for the second influx of asylum seekers has proved controversial.
Campaigners on behalf of asylum seekers have described it as "demeaning" and that it will inevitably lead to increased begging on city streets.
The vouchers, paid for by the UK Government via the National Asylum Support Service, are worth only 70% of Income Support payments, about £120 per week.
Value 'inadequate'
Activists say that if income support is set at the minimum level required to live above the poverty line, the voucher value is inadequate.
The government, though, insists that the system is fair because asylum seekers are not required to pay rent, council tax or for other local government services.
 The newcomers will be housed in Sighthill
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Glasgow City Council has no responsibility for the voucher system or its funding.
A spokesperson said, though, that outlets around asylum seekers' homes would accept the vouchers, which are provided by the French company Sodexho Pass.
On Monday, government legislation comes into force to speed up the process of dealing with asylum seekers across the country.
For the first time, the government is processing more asylum applications than it is receiving.
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