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: The impact of asylum on social housing.
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 Migrationwatchpoints 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.”
