Mayor urged to help asylum seekers with public transport costs

Asylum seekers can be given as little as £8.86 per week to cover all non-food costs, with the Home Office only funding travel to mandatory appointments.

In these circumstances, the cost of public transport means asylum seekers are sometimes unable to travel to necessary appointments relating to their asylum claim.

The London Assembly has today agreed a motion calling on the Mayor to work with a range of partners, including the NHS and London Boroughs, to enable asylum seekers to make necessary journeys.

Members also recommend that the Mayor works with the government on a long-term solution to allow asylum seekers to access public transport.

Elly Baker AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“London is a welcoming city, and we want to ensure it remains that way.

“The small allowance asylum seekers are given to cover non-food costs, combined with restrictions on their ability to work, makes it incredibly challenging for them to cover essential travel costs to attend vital appointments, access healthcare, and participate in English classes.

“The cost of public transport shouldn’t be a barrier to asylum seekers integrating into our communities, especially given that most asylum claims are eventually granted. I applaud Citizens UK and asylum seekers for their dedicated advocacy on this issue, and I am calling on the Mayor to work with partners, including borough councils, the NHS, and voluntary organisations, to explore ways of supporting asylum seekers with public transport access.

“It’s essential to develop a lasting solution to help asylum seekers access affordable transportation in London.”

The full text of the motion is:

The Assembly believes that London is a welcoming city and wants it to remain that way.

It notes that asylum seekers, who are often fleeing violence or persecution, are generally unable to work and given as little as £8.86 per week to cover all non-food costs, while they await a decision on their asylum claim.

While the Home Office does fund reasonable travel to mandatory appointments, this still leaves asylum seekers unable to travel to necessary appointments relating to their asylum claim as well as to vital services, such as healthcare and ESOL classes, because of the cost of public transport.

It’s important that asylum seekers have opportunities to integrate into wider society, especially given the majority of asylum claims are granted.¹ The cost of public transport acts as a barrier to this process.

The Assembly welcomes Citizens UK’s tireless campaigning on this issue alongside asylum seekers.

The Assembly calls on the Mayor to:

• Work with a range of partners, including London boroughs, voluntary sector organisations working directly with asylum seekers, and the NHS, on ways to support public transport access for asylum seekers, such as with travel vouchers, to enable access to necessary journeys.
• Work with Government to design a long-term solution to the challenging and complex problem of providing asylum seekers with affordable accesses to public transport.

The meeting can be viewed via webcast or YouTube.

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