UK to Ban Asylum Seekers from Using Taxis for Medical Visits

Key Takeaways:

• The UK government will ban asylum seekers from taking taxis to medical appointments, effective February, in an effort to reduce costs.
• Asylum seekers will be required to use alternative transport, such as buses, regardless of the urgency of their medical needs.
• The government has rejected pleas to provide free access to public transport for asylum seekers, despite campaigns from organizations representing those seeking asylum.
• A pilot scheme for free bus travel for asylum seekers was launched in Oxford, and Scotland has committed to providing free bus travel by 2026.
• The government plans to crack down on waste in asylum accommodation and transport contracts, which has already saved over £74m in accommodation costs.

Introduction to the Taxi Ban
The UK government has announced that asylum seekers will no longer be allowed to take taxis to medical appointments, effective February. This decision comes after an investigation by the BBC revealed that the Home Office spends approximately £15.8m per year on taxi services for asylum seekers. The government claims that this measure is necessary to reduce waste and inefficiency in the asylum system. However, organizations representing asylum seekers have expressed concerns that this ban will disproportionately affect vulnerable individuals who may not be able to access medical care due to transportation constraints.

The Need for Alternative Transport
The ban on taxis will require asylum seekers to use alternative transport, such as buses, to attend medical appointments. This may pose significant challenges for individuals who have been moved to different areas, sometimes while undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy. Organizations, including Citizens UK, have been campaigning for years for asylum seekers to be given free access to public transport, which would enable them to attend medical appointments, take their children to school, and access volunteering opportunities. Despite these efforts, the government has so far rejected these pleas, leaving many asylum seekers without a reliable means of transportation.

Campaigns for Free Public Transport
Citizens UK, in partnership with a coalition of 25 civil society organizations, began petitioning the government in 2023 to provide free bus travel for asylum seekers. A pilot scheme for free bus travel was launched in Oxford in November 2024, and Scotland has committed to providing free bus travel by 2026. However, the government’s decision to ban taxis without providing a suitable alternative has been met with criticism from organizations representing asylum seekers. Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, stated that the ban is a consequence of government incompetence and poor contract management, rather than asylum seekers exploiting the system.

Government Response and Criticism
The government has defended its decision, stating that robust new rules will ensure that taxis are only used in exceptional circumstances, such as for individuals with physical disabilities or serious illnesses. The Home Office will be required to sign off on such journeys, and the government claims that this will reduce waste and inefficiency in the system. However, critics argue that this threshold may be set too high, leaving vulnerable individuals without access to necessary transportation. The government has also announced plans to crack down on overcharging by taxi firms and other suppliers, which it claims will reinforce transparency and accountability.

Broader Context and Implications
The ban on taxis is part of a broader crackdown on waste in asylum accommodation and transport contracts, which the government claims has already saved over £74m in accommodation costs. The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, stated that the government had inherited contracts from the previous administration that were "wasting billions of taxpayers’ hard-earned cash." The government has pledged to remove asylum seekers from hotels and into alternative accommodation, such as military sites, by the end of this parliament, saving £500m in the process. However, figures show that 36,273 asylum seekers are still living in hotels, a higher figure than in June. The government’s policies have been met with criticism from organizations representing asylum seekers, who argue that they will only exacerbate the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals seeking protection in the UK.