Refugees & Asylum Refugees & Asylum Seekers in the UK 2Seekers in the UK 2

Following your research, has your Following your research, has your position on the spectrum altered?position on the spectrum altered?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2009/mar/16/asylum-seekers-refused-britain

ObjectivesObjectives

To understand the causes of flows of To understand the causes of flows of refugees and asylum seekers into the UK.refugees and asylum seekers into the UK.

To understand the consequences of flows To understand the consequences of flows of refugees and asylum seekers into the of refugees and asylum seekers into the UK.UK.

Where do asylum seekers to the UK Where do asylum seekers to the UK come from?come from?

Country of origin 2007

Number Cause

Afghanistan 9000

Iraq 6800

Somalia 6500

Sri Lanka 5500

Turkey 3600

Iran 3400

Former Yugoslavia

3200

Pakistan 2700

China 2300

Zimbabwe 2100

For each explain why people are seeking asylumGive other examples of past refugee flows to the UK

Consequences of flows of Consequences of flows of refugees and asylum seekersrefugees and asylum seekers

Where/how are these people housed?Where/how are these people housed?

The effect on local schools, health and welfare The effect on local schools, health and welfare services and the local economyservices and the local economy

The social effect of locals resenting the The social effect of locals resenting the newcomersnewcomers

Repatriation/deportation of failed asylum seekersRepatriation/deportation of failed asylum seekers

Where do people go?Where do people go? There is an issue with There is an issue with

how to look after asylum how to look after asylum seekers. Most need to seekers. Most need to be kept secure whilst be kept secure whilst their credentials are their credentials are checked and formalities checked and formalities completed. So most are completed. So most are held in one of the UK’s 15 held in one of the UK’s 15 detention centres or even detention centres or even prison for a few days prison for a few days whilst they are assessed.whilst they are assessed.

Read the articlesRead the articles

This raises human rights issues as people including children are being detained without trial for an unlimited period of time.

What happens next?What happens next?If they are unlikely to abscond or are families with If they are unlikely to abscond or are families with children and do not have money to support children and do not have money to support themselves they will be housed and given 70% of themselves they will be housed and given 70% of income support in the form of vouchers by NASS income support in the form of vouchers by NASS (National Asylum Support Service). (National Asylum Support Service). They are not They are not allowed to work. allowed to work. Since 1999 the UK has Since 1999 the UK has operated a dispersal system to move people from operated a dispersal system to move people from the South East and Ports of entry. People are the South East and Ports of entry. People are moved to cluster areas these are often poor, moved to cluster areas these are often poor, stressed neighbourhoods. stressed neighbourhoods. Describe the current Describe the current distribution of asylum seekers using the mapdistribution of asylum seekers using the map

The impact of asylum seekers The impact of asylum seekers on Glasgowon Glasgow

Around 6000 are housed Around 6000 are housed on a council estate in on a council estate in Sighthill in North Sighthill in North Glasgow. Glasgow.

The estate has ten 20 The estate has ten 20 storey blocks of flats storey blocks of flats built in 60’s and due for built in 60’s and due for demolition. It is the most demolition. It is the most deprived part of Glasgowdeprived part of Glasgow

•Most are Kurds•60% are under 34•20% are graduates•75% educated at secondary level•66% were employed in their country of origin•88% would like to settle in Glasgow

Read the statements, sort them into Read the statements, sort them into piles, make notes and be ready to piles, make notes and be ready to feed back to feed back to the classthe class

Economic Impact

Impact on local services

Reaction of locals

Effects on the asylum seekers

Plenary: Are Asylum Seekers a Plenary: Are Asylum Seekers a good thing for Scotland?good thing for Scotland?

Look at this data, Look at this data,

Between 2001 and 2041Between 2001 and 2041

The population will fall from 5 to 4.5 millionThe population will fall from 5 to 4.5 million

The proportion > 65 will increase by 50%The proportion > 65 will increase by 50%

The proportion<15 will fall by 30%The proportion<15 will fall by 30%

Homework: Make notes on how asylum seekers can solve Scotland’s population problem