Why do I hear "election" when you start talking about immigration issues? This isn't about canvassing Middle England. The Government is consulting on integration proposals set out in its second refugee integration paper for England. Scotland already has a strategy in place, and Wales is working on developing its own. And this is about refugees, not asylum-seekers.
And the difference is? Aside from the rhetoric? The paper looks at the integration of people who have been recognised as refugees and granted exceptional leave to remain, or given humanitarian protection. Integration is seen in terms of refugees being empowered to achieve their full potential as part of British society; contributing to the community; and accessing the public services to which they are entitled.
So what are they proposing? Having tried to define integration in very practical terms, and with a nod to the legal requirement to promote good race relations under race relations legislation, the paper looks at a number of issues. Firstly, how to best manage resources and the different funding streams - in particular, the crucial role played by the voluntary and community sectors in advising and supporting refugees - as well as the work of newer creatures like the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). To improve services, from 2005 the dispersal programme will be delivered by NASS through regional offices.
Hasn't had much effect yet then? Housing, healthcare, support for children whose education has been disrupted, language classes for children and adults, training and acquiring new skills, and adult employment are all touched upon. Unaccompanied refugee children are mentioned, but the focus is on single adult refugees and refugee families. They're proposing to tighten up the law to require refugees seeking homelessness assistance to apply in their dispersal area.
And children and young people? There's quite a bit of information on the role education should be playing: making use of the Vulnerable Children Grant, offering interpreting services and financial assistance for uniforms or transport, providing early years places, having school admission and induction policies in place, and supporting access to leisure services and after-school care. But the big push is to concentrate support after the immigration decision has been made when the refugee family needs to find somewhere to live, and somewhere to work.
Why? It's unclear who is actually responsible for providing the support and advice that are crucial during that time. Soon, refugees can apply for an interest-free Refugee Integration Loan to subsidise a list of activities and repayable through existing Social Fund processes. In 2005, the Government proposes to pilot what they're calling the Sunrise programme in one region.
Under this scheme, voluntary-sector organisations will be invited to bid to provide a one-to-one support service; each refugee who volunteers to take part will have a dedicated caseworker, and both of them will draft a Personal Integration Plan.
A plan isn't a job. No, but the report finishes with a list of indicators, one of which is comparing employment and unemployment rates for refugees and the general population.
FACT BOX
- Between 1992 and 2002, nearly 238,000 people were granted refugee status or exceptional leave to remain in the UK
- Unemployment among refugees is six times the national average
- Integration Matters: a national strategy for refugee integration is available from the Home Office at http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/laws___policy/refugee_integ ration0/a_national_strategy.Maincontent.0002.file.tmp/Refugee_Intergrati on.pdf
- Responses are due by 20 October.
