HOLYROOD has voted against plans to scrap a pilot scheme giving free bus travel to asylum seekers in Scotland.
However, the Scottish Greens brought forward a motion which compelled MSPs to vote on reversing the scheme on Wednesday.
MSPs voted 68 to 27 to back the principle of free bus travel for those seeking asylum.
“The UK immigration system is a disgrace,” said Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman.
“And that’s a polite word for it.
“It represents a systematic denial of the most basic rights, respect and dignity. And the huge backlog of unmade decisions, the condemnation of vulnerable people into existential limbo, is one of its worst aspects.
“We in this chamber can do little as things stand to change that. Though we can take every opportunity we have to try.
“But we can dismantle some of the obstacles that stand between people seeking asylum and their fundamental human rights.
“And one of those obstacles is a lack of, literally, affordable transport.”
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said that the financial situation faced by the Scottish Government meant that more funding from the UK Government would be needed to make the scheme a reality.
“While we do all that we can, the responsibilities for ensuring people seeking asylum are provided with adequate financial support lies firmly with the Home Office,” she said.
“Free bus travel would enable people seeking asylum to access essential services like healthcare and legal advice.
“It could support them to accompany their children to school and take part in community activities.
“But do not underestimate the financial pressures this government is under.
“This government remains absolutely committed to exploring how to extend free bus travel to people seeking asylum before the end of the parliamentary session.
“But we all know that ultimate we are only doing what we can within the limited tools and resources available to us.
“To comprehensively change how asylum seekers are treated here in Scotland and how they are supported, we need a more humane approach from the UK Government.
“Or best of all we need the powers of independence to make our own decisions”.
An SNP amendment to the motion urging the UK Government “to provide adequate financial support to local authorities and asylum seekers to ensure that they are not pushed further into hardship" was passed by with 68 MSP voting Yes, 27 voting No and 20 Scottish Labour MSPs abstaining.
