AS THE Immigration and Asylum Bill goes through the committee stage in parliament, asylum seekers face another threat, due to be introduced on February 5.
Peter Lilley made a tactical retreat on the earlier introduction of these cuts. Orizinal proposals were to cut off benefit entitlement to all existing asylum seckers. The retreat was due partly to the legal threat from right wing Westminster Council, conobliged to house asylum seekers with. out central government funding.
It was also an attempt to avold the embarrassment of churches organising soup kitchens for the estimated 13,000 asylum seekers who would have been made homeless overnight.
The proposals are now to refuse benefits to all new in-country applications and to anyone appealing against home office decisions.
Already hospital workers and GPs nave been insucco to cry out le local councils have prepared to cur free school meals and housing benefits.
The Social Security regulation changes will withdraw Attendance Al. lowanke, council fax benefit, Lisabik ity Living Allowance, Disability Working Allowance, Family Credit, Housing Benefit, Invalid Care Allowance and Severe Disablement AllowEater administrative staff have not only been pre-empting these meas. ANTI-RACISM Socialist Outlook 96 • February 3, 1996.