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Glasgow council leader meets minister over refugee evictions
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken has met with immigration minister Caroline Nokes over attempts to evict failed asylum seekers from flats in the Scottish city.
Ms Aitken said Ms Nokes had been “left in no doubt that lock changes … do not have support within the city”.
The summit came after public services firm Serco served notice on six individuals that their locks would be changed as part of an eviction process following their failed application for asylum.
In light of planned legal action, Serco has since added 21 days to the notice given to those six people and paused plans to hand out any more.
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But Serco warned that it was currently providing free accommodation to more than 300 failed asylum seekers. The firm is contracted by the government to house people while their application is under review but that funding cuts off 21 days after a rejection.
Ms Aitken said: "While it is helpful that Serco has paused the lock change programme, what we are seeking is an end to lock changing regardless of the outcome of any imminent court action.
"Until then, there are other changes the Home Office can make and we also discussed the need for protocols for sharing data on those seeking asylum and where they are in the process.
“There is currently little clarity about the actual status of the 330 people affected, therefore it is essential that Glasgow City Council has the time and opportunity to carry out individual assessments for all of them and ensure that everyone gets the right support and outcome for their circumstances.
"The minister agreed this was necessary and her officers have committed to engaging constructively with us to ensure this is put in place.”
Parkhead Housing Association has previously written to Serco to warn that under the lease agreement on its flats used to house asylum seekers, the locks cannot be changed without the association’s permission.
It is understood the 1,600-home landlord has one flat which is leased by Serco and whose inhabitants could face eviction.
