Perth and Kinross Council wants financial support from both the UK and Scottish governments as well as a speedier application process for those seeking asylum to allow them to work and 'give back' to the UK
Perth and Kinross Council has called for "an immediate rethink" of plans to double the number of asylum seekers in two Perth hotels.
The SNP councillor added: "Since November 2021, the Station Hotel and Queens Hotel have been used as the aforementioned ‘contingency accommodation’ housing 118 single men of 15 different nationalities - the majority in their teens or twenties. The majority have now been accommodated there for over a year. Unforgivably, only four of these 118 have so far received decisions on their asylum applications. These numbers are about to increase to around 250.
Cllr Drysdale added: "Previous funding of £700 per person - which never did fully cover costs - has now stopped just as we are about to see numbers more than double. Meanwhile, an additional funding stream for those being or about to be dispersed to standalone accommodation cannot be accessed by PKC at this time. Whilst funding is reportedly ‘under review’, neither PKC nor COSLA has been able to obtain clarity or assurance from the Home Office or Mears. This situation is intolerable.
"People seeking asylum are seeking solace and a chance to rebuild. With no right to work, they’re unable to provide financially for themselves, unable to fill vacancies in healthcare or hospitality, and unable to give back to the country in which they have sought sanctuary. That needs to change. Labour councillor Brian Leishman expressed concern about some local reaction to the situation in Perth.
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