Social Housing Shows 40,000 Deficit Because of Record Asylum Numbers

May 22, 2007

The unprecedented number of asylum-seekers granted permission to stay in the UK in recent years has exceeded the number of new social houses built in the period by nearly 40,000, says a new report out today. (see report)

In a short summary of the position - following the comments from Dagenham MP and Government Minister, Margaret Hodge at the weekend - the paper, from think-tank Migrationwatch points out that new social housing has been lower even than the number of principal applicants granted asylum or other permission to stay in the UK over that period.

"It once again highlights the Government’s almost total lack of planning for the effects of the record asylum, and immigration levels, over the past 10 years which has had a major impact on the availability of social housing for the native population," said Migrationwatch chairman, Sir Andrew Green.

"This is not to imply that those in genuine fear of persecution should not be given refuge; it is to suggest that the government should have taken account of the very large numbers involved in making provision for new social housing,’ he said. ‘The evidence is clearly that they have failed."

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