In A "radical and fundamental" reform of the asylum system in Britain announced yesterday, asylum-seekers are to carry identification cards and new accommodation centres will be opened across Britain.
Announcing "robust but less socially divisive reforms", the Home Secretary, Mr David Blunkett, said Labour inherited a "terrible mess" but he conceded many of the current arrangements were "too slow, vulnerable to fraud and felt to be unfair" by both asylum-seekers and local communities.
The asylum and immigration system would be "streamlined" with the controversial voucher system phased out, the number of secure detention centres expanded and citizenship lessons for successful asylum seekers. But the message in Britain and abroad, Mr Blunkett said, would be "crystal clear, but tough . . . that the UK is not a soft touch". Under the £250 million sterling reforms, new asylum seekers will have their claims assessed at a network of induction centres. If they qualify for support they will be issued with a "smartcard" containing their photograph and fingerprint for identification and they will be expected to regularly attend reporting centres while their claims are being processed. The government also intends to build four new accommodation centres across the country, which will house up to 3,000 asylum-seekers. The centres will provide a range of services, including education and health care and instead of vouchers to spend in shops, asylum-seekers will be given about £14 sterling a week.
However, with 76,000 asylum applications last year, it was clear that accommodation centres could not house all asylum-seekers and to address that issue, Mr Blunkett said the government would improve the dispersal scheme by increasing consultation with local authorities housing asylum-seekers.
Mr Blunkett's predecessor, Mr Jack Straw, introduced the voucher and dispersal scheme whereby asylum seekers were sent to live on council estates, usually in run-down areas, and given vouchers instead of money.
In addition, the practice of detaining some asylum-seekers in prisons will end in January but the number of secure detention centres will be increased.
Earlier, a group of 40 protesters demanding independence for Tibet accused the Mr Blair of "harbouring terrorists" in Downing Street as China's Vice President, Mr Hu Jintao, arrived for talks.
Mr Blair was meeting Mr Hu as part of the continuing effort to secure the international coalition against terrorism. Mr Hu avoided the crowd by using a side entrance to Downing Street.