Model motion This branch notes: I) The devastating fire at the privately-run Yarl's Wood detention centre in February, and the subsequent refusal of the Home Oflice to grant a full, independent public inquiry, 2) The Home Secretary's 2001 White Paper, Secure Borders, Safe Haven, which paves the way for: a) A doubling in the number of asylum seekers, including infants and children, to be detained to 4,000;
b) a quadrupling in the number to be deported to more than 30,000 a year, disregarding the validity of their asylum claims;
c) accommodation centres housing hundreds in isolated rural areas, segregated from mainstream society and a potential target for racist attacks;
d) continuation of forced dispersal;
e) and the scrapping of the humiliating voucher scheme, but benefits still limited to 70% of basic Income Support.
3) The annual refugee week, from 15-22 June, offers an opportunity to show solidarity with refugees and to protest against draconian government policy.
4) The call from the 23 March conference in Manchester for a national demonstration on 22 June in central London and protests outside detention centres on 15 june. This branch believes:
I) Government policy on and media scapegoating of asylum seekers are fuelling an atmosphere where racist violence is increasing along with support for fascist parties such as the BNP 2) The Home Secretary's proposals amount to the biggest attack on chil liberties since the Second World War, 3) Refugees and immigrants have, for generations, made a positive contribution to UK society both economically and culturally. This branch resolves:
To back the national demonstration on 22 June and protests outside detention centres on 15 June by:
a) circulating stewards with leaflets publicising the protests b) encouraging members to attend;
C) sending the branch banner:
d) conating &... toward the cost of the demonstration and transport;
e) and sending this motion to the appropriate regional and national bodies of the union [as well as Trades Councils, Constituency Labour Parties and other relevant organisations) Donations to Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers. BCM Box 4289, London WCIX 3XX