How Countries Compare In Handling Asylum-Seekers

Accommodation:

Accommodation:

Britain: National Asylum-seeker Support Service and local authorities are responsible for finding accommodation

Denmark: 44 regional centres

Italy: Temporary accommodation provided while claims investigated

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Germany: All 16 states have to accept a proportion of asylum-seekers

Australia: Initially housed in six detention centres throughout the country

Ireland: Health boards source accommodation on behalf of local authorities. Eighty per cent in Dublin but dispersion increasing.

Benefits/Income

Britain: Vouchers for food and other needs, redeemable in 15,000 shops across the country; some vouchers can be cashed for £10 sterling.

Denmark: Free medical care, and around £8 a day equivalent.

Italy: Food and board for brief assessment period

Germany: Vouchers for food, £32 per person each month.

Australia: Food and board for assessment period

Ireland: Pre-November 1999 arrivals get supplementary welfare allowance (£72 per week). Post-November 1999, many asylum-seekers get food and lodging and a payment of £15 per week.

Can They Work?

Britain: No

Italy: Only if they arrive with employment in place.

Denmark: Limited right, over the period of final approval

Germany: No

Australia: No

Ireland: No, unless they were in the State for more than 12 months in July 1999

Deportation

Britain: Yes

Denmark: Yes, but will not proceed unless the home country agrees.

Italy: Yes - the overwhelming majority, 72,000 in 1999

Germany: Yes

Australia: Yes

Ireland: Yes, though the number actually deported so far is quite small.

Special Humanitarian Quota:

Britain: No

Denmark: Yes

Italy: No

Germany: No

Australia: Yes

Ireland: No