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Migrants being left to go hungry
Funding row leaves jobless Bulgarians and Romanians on streets as shelters struggle on
MIGRANTS caught in the crossfire of a statistics row between local and central government are being denied food and shelter because they have no work permits.
Jobless Bulgarians and Romanians, who have come to Westminster following the widening of the European Union in January 1, are in desperate need of help.
But the council says it is not obliged to support them.
The Labour government bases its funding allocation to councils on data collated by the Office for National Statistics.
But Tory-run Westminster Council claims those figures are too low and have threatened to raise council tax charges.
But while the war of words rages, people are left hungry on the streets.
The Migrant Resource Centre in Churton Street, Pimlico, this week launched a food parcel and hygiene pack appeal to help destitute migrants and refugees.
Nazek Ramadan, who works at the centre, said: “Many are living on food vouchers supplied by the council – but others are not entitled to any support at all. We urgently need food parcels with things like cornflakes boxes, tuna tins, cans of soup, rice and soap and toothpaste. The food items must be non-perishable and can-openers would also be very helpful.”
The council this week summoned immigration chiefs from across the country for crunch talks at City Hall.
Monday’s summit saw councils sharing information and discussing lobbying the government over new methods of calculating migration figures introduced in April.
Using this new calculation method, the results have lowered London’s migrant population by 60,000 and Westminster’s by 15,000. It means the council will lose £6 million in funding over the next three years.
The council believes that around 2,000 migrants are arriving in buses at Victoria Coach Station every week.
Nick Bell, the council’s finance director, said: “There is a need for robust and consistent data.” |
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