To what extend has ayslum policy contributed to increasing levels of social exclusion in the UK over the last decade?

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To what extend has ayslum policy contributed to increasing levels of social exclusion in the UK over the last decade? Illustrate your answer with reference to Health and Housing

This essay will discuss what asylum policy is, and how it has increased levels of social exclusion in the UK, where I will use specific examples from health and housing. Though, first, one must understand the term asylum seekers which applies to someone who has applied for asylum in this country, their application has been accepted as worthy of consideration and is being processed. In comparison, a refugee is someone who has been granted asylum or ‘exceptional leave to remain’ here. It is important to distinguish between two because refugees have more rights than asylum seekers. For example, a refugee can engage in paid employment.

Again, one must clarify what ‘social exclusion’ is. As defined by Gordon and Townsend (2000), they believe that ‘social exclusion’ is not a state but a process. In December 1997, the Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) was set up for two years in the first instance, based in the Cabinet Office and reporting to the Prime Minister. The aim of the Unit is to develop coordinated policies to address social exclusion, described as joined-up policies for joined-up problems. It has no spending budget, since its purpose is to make recommendations to the contributory government departments, with a view to directing existing funding more effectively. The ‘socially’ excluded are understood to be a group outside ‘mainsteam society’. Sometimes they are thought as ‘outdide society’ itself. (Gordon and Townsend 2000). Similarly, the DSS report states that “social exclusion occurs where different factors combine to trap individuals and areas in a spiral of disadvantages” (DSS NPI report, 1999, p23).

The United Kingdoms history regarding immigration and asylum seekers policy shows  successive immigration acts were aimed at allowing certain people to settle here and exclude others. Two significant ones were. The 1905 Aliens Act: aimed at preventing Jews settling (relevance of wider historical context) and the 1962 Commonwealth Immigration Act: response to immigration from former colonies aimed at excluding ‘black’ immigrants. Effectively this ended primary immigration to Britain. Also, Britain’s international obligations are included in the 1951 UN convention on human rights which states that “those with well-founded fear of persecution must be granted asylum”. However, the word ‘well-founded’ is open to interpretation.

Social policies aimed at tackling social exclusion of immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees, so that social justice and equality can be achieved. This has two main kinds of benefit:

1. helps them to settle and integrate more quickly and provides them with the support they need to make a life for themselves and their families.

2. helps to nurture socially responsible citizens who will contribute much to the social, political and economic life of this country

The asylum process is administered by the Immigration and nationality Directorate, part of the Home Office. The application process can begin in one of four ways, depending on when and where the application is made:

  • Port applications, made at the time of entering the UK. Declaration of intention to claim asylum on entering. Entitled to 90% of income support a week (up to £46) if they do and, if they don’t, must rely on local authorities and charities for vouchers, food parcels and accommodation.
  • Applications made after legal entry to the UK, within the period that the applicant is permitted to stay in the country e.g on a temporary visa
  • Applications made after legal entry to the UK, but after the period that the applicant is permitted to stay in the country has elapsed.
  • Ilegal entry applications, where the applicant has entered the UK illegally.
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Accomodation: Asylum seekers who make port applications are usually given temporary admission to the country whilst their applications are being considered. However, if they have come from a third country (i.e. no their country of origin) which is deemed safe, they maybe immediately returned their whilst their application is considered.

If the applicant is allowed to stay in the UK whilst their claim is being processed, there are several options for accommodation. These include:

  • being held at a detention centre if it is felt that there is a risk that they will abscond or if their claim is ...

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