The real problem

The Housing Associations Charitable Trust is right to point out that behind the falling asylum statistics lie more pressing issues such as the need for more short-term homes (“HACT: asylum application fall disguises continuing problems” 27 August, page 9).

Centrepoint also urges the government to lift the barriers to employment faced by young people who are granted asylum in the UK.

The majority of refugees find it difficult, and sometimes impossible, to get work in the UK despite being highly motivated and possessing useful, much-needed skills such as languages or medical training.

The vast majority of asylum applicants are young – 43% are under 25. Many of them will spend the rest of their lives in the UK, and it is imperative that we give them the opportunity to make a contribution to the community.

Centrepoint admits four times as many young refugees to our hostels as we did five years ago. Do we continue to pour money down the drain by keeping them on benefits, or do we remove the barriers they face to work and help them contribute to the economy?

The real story behind these statistics is not how many people are allowed to stay in the UK but what is happening to those already here.

We cannot afford not to help them.