UK News 30-10-2001 Blunkett Gives Smart ID Cards To Asylum Seekers who: Home Secretary David Blunkett what: Announces end of controversial voucher scheme for asylum seekers where: House of Commons, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "Asylum seekers will have to carry identity cards and be housed in a network of camps under the Government`s second overhaul of the system," reports The Telegraph this morning after home secretary David Blunkett yesterday abandoned the food and clothing voucher scheme in favour of electronic money transfers and announced that all those claiming refugee status will be offered a place in an accommodation centre. "In a reversal of Labour policy, David Blunkett is to have four accommodation centres built to hold 3,000 asylum applicants while their cases are heard," says The Times following Mr Blunkett`s damning review of policies introduced by Jack Straw. "If the trial proves a success, a network of centres will be provided throughout Britain to hold an estimated 30,000 asylum-seekers." "Refugee support groups immediately attacked David Blunkett for introducing a measure that they said would "stigmatise" asylum-seekers even more than the hated voucher system," reports The Independent. "The `smart cards` are not better than vouchers," says Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action on Housing, "they are worse and will criminalise and stigmatise asylum-seekers even more with the use of fingerprints and photographs." [... more]

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