Policy
Overview
Scotland has a long history of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers and recognises it is a human right to be able to seek asylum in another country.
Actions
We support refugees and asylum seekers by:
- implementing the New Scots strategy to ensure they are supported and integrated from day one
- working with partners to ensure smooth arrival and integration
- providing funding to a range of organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers
- offering help and protection to unaccompanied children while their status is determined
- taking a fair and proportionate share of the total number of Syrian refugees coming to the UK by participating in the Syrian resettlement programme
- providing education linked to someone's ordinary residence - when a person moves into an area the education authority become responsible for that pupil's education
Background
Asylum is a matter reserved to the UK Government and handled by the Home Office. We are responsible for devolved matters, including access to essential services like healthcare and education, that enable the integration of refugees and asylum seekers in Scottish communities.
Scotland’s New Scots approach is to support refugees and asylum seekers to integrate into our communities from day one of arrival.
A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, violence or persecution. They have had their status as a refugee recognised under the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.
A refugee is entitled to the same social and economic rights as any UK citizen. Refugees have full access to medical treatment, education, benefits, housing and employment.
An asylum seeker is a person who has asked a government to recognise their refugee status and is waiting to hear the outcome of their application.
Some people seeking asylum are moved to Scotland as part of the UK Government’s dispersal policy within the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
Bills and legislation
The UK is a signatory to the 1951 UN convention relating to the status of refugees and is obliged to consider properly any application for asylum made in the UK by a person who claims to be fleeing persecution.
Contact
Email: scotlandsrefugeestrategy@gov.scot
Telephone: 0300 244 4000
Post:
Scottish Government
Equality Unit
Directorate for Local Government and Communities
Asylum and Refugee Integration
Area 3H North
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ