UK SCRAPS £15.8M ASYLUM SEEKERS TAXI SERVICE – The move was made to curb Home Office waste
The UK government is set to ban most asylum seekers from using taxis for medical appointments beginning in February, following a spending review that found the Home Office was spending approximately £15.8 million annually on the service.
The policy change, part of a broader crackdown on waste in asylum accommodation and transport contracts, will require asylum seekers to use alternative public transport, such as buses, even for urgent medical needs.
The government review was triggered after an investigation revealed instances of asylum seekers using taxis for remarkably long and expensive journeys. One reported case involved an individual who took a 250-mile taxi ride costing £600 just to visit a GP. Long travel distances often occur when asylum seekers are relocated to different areas, sometimes mid-treatment for serious conditions like chemotherapy.
The government said these new measures contribute to a wider initiative that has already saved over £74 million in accommodation costs.
