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Immigration, Asylum and Refugees

• London Enriched: the Mayor’s draft strategy for refugee integration in London July 2007
  The Mayor’s draft strategy for refugee integration in London – London Enriched – outlines a range of recommended action to tackle the disadvantage faced by London’s refugees, so that they may settle and integrate successfully in London.
  
  London Enriched: the Mayor’s draft strategy for refugee integration in London
  
  
• Planning better outcomes and support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children May 2007
  In February 2007 the Home Office issued a consultation paper outlining its plans for the immigration and care arrangements for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. In his response, the Mayor stresses the need to align these arrangements with Government policies designed to protect and support all children in the UK, Every Child Matters and Care Matters; transforming the lives of children and young people in care. The Mayor's comments include his views on foster placements, geographical distribution, age determination, assessment of need and placement, the asylum process and return to the country of origin. A key message is the need to invest in young refugees so that they become confident and skilled young adults with good life chances.
  
  Planning better outcomes and support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children PDF
  Planning better outcomes and support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children RTF
  
  
• Response by the Mayor of London to 'A New Model for National Refugee Integration Services in England' December 2006
  In 2006, the Home Office announced that it is considering a complete overhaul of its refugee integration services in England and issued a consultation document outlining a range of possible integration models. The Mayor's response includes comments on the strengths and weaknesses of the Home Office proposal as well as a range of recommendations indicating how the Home Office model could best meet London's needs. A key message is that it is imperative to locate New Model services within a London strategic framework for refugee integration.
  
  Mayor's response to 'New Model for National Refugee Integration Services' PDF
  Mayor's response to 'New Model for National Refugee Integration Services' RTF
  
  
• Estimating London’s new migrant population: Stage I – review of methodology September 2006
  This study examines options for estimating the number and characteristics of foreign-born residents in London who came to the UK in a given recent period. It was commissioned by the Mayor from a Leeds University team including Professor Phil Rees, a leading expert on methods of analysing migration. This initial study does not itself produce new population figures, but aims instead to find the best way of making such estimates reliably, at regional and local level, in a further stage of research. Looking at a range of existing UK data sources, the report finds that the analysis of migrant population which London needs can be achieved only by gathering all these sources in a New Migrant Databank at national level. It recommends that the Mayor lead work with London and national partners to set up this databank.
  
  Estimating London's new migrant population Stage I - methodology PDF
  Estimating London's new migrant population Stage I - methodology RTF (text only - excludes graphics)
  
  
• Reflecting asylum in London’s communities: Monitoring London’s press coverage of refugees and asylum seekers June 2006
  This independent report deals with the coverage of asylum seekers and refugees in London’s papers - local, regional, faith and Black, Asian and minority ethnic press. Commissioned by the Mayor from ICAR, The Information Centre about Refugees and Asylum in the UK (based at City University), it is a follow-up at London level to the ICAR report Media Image Community Impact (2004) which found the asylum coverage of the national press frequently unbalanced and inaccurate. ‘Reflecting Asylum’ by contrast finds that London’s papers overall show more accurate, balanced and community sensitive reporting. It includes a model of good practice for all press coverage of asylum seekers and refugees.
  
  Reflecting asylum executive summary PDF
  Reflecting asylum executive summary RTF
  Reflecting asylum full report PDF
  Reflecting asylum full report RTF
  
  
• Response by the Mayor of London to 'Selective Admission' November 2005
  The Mayor's response to the Home Office 2005 document 'Selective Admission: Making Migration Work for Britain' which proposed a new points-based system for regulating entry to the UK for work, training or study. After explaining the significance of migration to London, the Mayor raises concerns about the Home Office package and then suggests changes to make it more flexible and more consistent with London's needs. His proposals cover employee rights; need to review the impact of controls on high-skilled migrants; migration in response to employer demand, adapting the current Work Permits scheme; worker-led migration under a job-seeker (‘green card’) scheme; and deletion of proposals for financial bonds and compulsory remittances.
  
  Response by the Mayor of London to 'Selective Admission' PDF
  Response by the Mayor of London to 'Selective Admission' RTF
  
  
• Response by the Mayor of London to European Commission Green Paper on an EU approach to managing economic migration April 2005
  In his response, the Mayor explains in Part A the profound implications of this process for London - in economic, demographic and social terms. He also outlines key problems posed for London by the current UK migration regime. Part B sets out the Mayor's alternative proposals, starting with core principles for an approach to economic migration that matches the needs of London, the UK and Europe. They are then developed into proposals on labour market information systems; integrating labour migrants, especially by securing equal rghts at work; better ways of connecting job candidates and EU employers world-wide; a green card system for people seeking jobs in Europe; and steps to make sure migration will enhance development in countries of origin.
  
  Mayor's Response to Green Paper on Economic Migration PDF
  Mayor's Response to Green Paper on Economic Migration RTF
  
  
• Into the Labyrinth: Legal advice for asylum seekers in London March 2005
  This is the first overview of legal advice and representation for asylum seekers in the capital. It considers advice about asylum claims and about welfare support entitlements. The report concludes that some asylum seekers are wrongly refused asylum because they cannot access competent legal advice and consequently face destitution at the end of the asylum process or return to countries where they are at risk of persecution. The report ends with some practical proposals for improving the current system.
  

  Into the Labyrinth PDF (614KB)
  Into the Labyrinth RTF (843KB)

• Refugee integration strategy: Mayor’s response to Home Office consultation on Integration Matters: a National Strategy for Refugee Integration November 2004
  This document gives the Mayor’s response to Home Office consultation on measures to help achieve refugee integration. The Mayor starts by welcoming several positive aspects of the Home Office approach. Then he sets out concerns, from London’s perspective, about a range of cross-cutting issues raised by Integration Matters. Lastly this response looks at more specific initiatives and service areas, commenting on proposals in Integration Matters and adding new ones. Areas covered are : caseworker scheme to assist integration; housing; employment; education; and community safety.
  
  Refugee integration strategy PDF
  Refugee integration strategy RTF
  
  
• Media Image, Community Impact July 2004
  'Media Image, Community Impact' is an independent report commissioned by the Mayor from ICAR (The Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees in the UK, Kings College London). It deals with media images of refugees and asylum seekers, assessing their potential impact on community relations and harassment of refugees and asylum seekers in London, and makes recommendations for action.
  
  Executive Summary PDF (265KB)
  Executive Summary RTF (1.3MB)
  
  Full Report PDF (806KB)
  Full Report RTF (1.6MB)
  
  
• Offering more than they borrow: Refugee children in London March 2004
  This report presents what is known about refugee children in London and identifies an agenda for action to ensure that they have the same chance as others of realising their potential. The report is based on research studies that actively consulted young people in London, including refugee children. It also reflects responses to the GLA’s consultation on refugees and asylum seekers.
  
  Refugee children in London PDF
  Refugee children in London RTF
  
  
• Destitution by Design - Withdrawal of support from in-country asylum applicants: An impact assessment for London February 2004
  This report assesses the impact of Section 55 of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 on London, suggesting how many it could leave destitute and outlining its implications for refugee communities, homelessness, social services, health, and community safety. The report includes the first survey of people made destitute by Section 55. It concludes that this measure is likely to have a serious, largely harmful impact on the city and recommends repeal, but also makes proposals for monitoring its effects and easing the worst of them, pending repeal.
  
  Destitution by design PDF
  Destitution by design RTF
  
  
• A Strong City Voice in a Common Asylum Policy for the EU
  June 2003, updated December 2003
  The Mayor launched a joint statement by leaders of 16 major European cities setting out their shared perspective on how Europe should respond to the arrival of asylum seekers and other migrants, and explaining why cities must have a voice in the formation of policy in these areas. The statement is also available in French and German from the Mayor's European Policy page.
  
  Joint Statement on Asylum Policy, December 2003 update - English, PDF only
  
  
• The future of European Employment Strategy February 2003
  The Mayor responded to the European Commission communication on the future of the EES - section 9 is on Immigration and London's labour market.

  The future of European Employment Strategy PDF
  The future of European Employment Strategy RTF

• Missed Opportunities: A skills audit of refugee women in London from teaching, nursing and medical professions December 2002
  The skills of women arriving in the UK as refugees are not formally recorded, yet many are qualified professionals. This report, produced in association with the Refugee Women's Association, examines the skills available among refugee women in London in the teaching and medical professions. It records the levels of employment among the women in their countries of origin and looks at the problems they have faced in continuing their chosen professions in this country, despite the demand for teachers, nurses and doctors.
  
  Missed Opportunities PDF (2.6MB)
  Missed Opportunities RTF (914KB)
  

Asylum, nationality and immigration: the Mayor's reponse to Government policy spring 2002

• Mayor's response to Home Office White Paper Secure Borders Safe Haven (March 2002)
  
  Mayor's response to Home Office PDF
  Mayor's response to Home Office RTF
  
  
• London can't afford this Bill: Mayor's briefing for MPs on the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Bill(April 2002)
  
  London can't afford this Bill PDF
  London can't afford this Bill RTF

Government plans for a radical shift in policy on asylum nationality and immigration were set out in the Secure Borders Safe Haven in February 2002. To help put the White Paper into effect, the Home Secretary then published a Nationality Immigration and Asylum Bill in April 2002.

The shift spelt out in these two documents has important implications for London. The Mayor gave his view of the Government's plans firstly in a detailed reponse to its consultation on the White Paper which has a wide canvas - from citizenship, rules on immigration for marriage and economic immigration, to a new 'seamless' asylum system. Secondly in April 2002 the Mayor issued a briefing for MPs on the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Bill.

In these two statements, the Mayor welcomes some points in the Government's new approach - such as scrapping vouchers for asylum seekers, and its recognition that immigration can bring major benefits. But overall, he says it is 'disappointing and potentially quite damaging'. He challenges a number of proposals in the White Paper and the Bill, also suggesting policy changes they overlook which London needs.

• Refugees and asylum seekers in London: a GLA perspective, September 2001
  What steps can the Mayor take to make sure the arrival of refugees and asylum seekers becomes - and is understood as - an opportunity for London? This report analyses that which is currently known about refugees and asylum seekers in London and seeks to inform recommendations that would help the capital move towards this goal.
  
  Refugees and asylum seekers in London.

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