The Home Office has announced a significant policy shift that will prevent asylum seekers from using taxis to reach medical appointments, as part of a broader crackdown on accommodation and transport expenses.
Substantial Savings Drive Transport Overhaul
This decisive move follows revelations that the government spends approximately £15.8 million annually on taxi services for asylum seekers. From February, individuals will be required to use alternative transport such as buses, regardless of the urgency of their medical requirements.
The government has, however, rejected longstanding appeals from campaigners to provide asylum seekers with free access to public transport. This decision comes despite a pilot scheme for free bus travel launching in Oxford in November 2024 and Scotland's commitment to implement it by 2026.
Systemic Issues and Campaigner Response
The policy change was triggered by a government review initiated after a BBC investigation uncovered extreme cases, including one individual who took a 250-mile taxi journey costing £600 for a GP appointment.
Organisations like Citizens UK have campaigned for years for a national bus pass scheme. They argue this would not only address medical travel but also enable asylum seekers to take children to school and access volunteering opportunities. A coalition of 25 civil society organisations began petitioning the government on this issue in 2023.
Long medical journeys often occur when asylum seekers are relocated to different areas, sometimes in the middle of critical treatments like chemotherapy. Currently, asylum seekers are entitled to just one return bus journey per week, with Home Office contractors frequently booking taxis for all other necessary travel.
New Rules and Financial Accountability
Under the new framework, taxi use will be strictly limited to exceptional, evidenced cases. These exceptions may include individuals with physical disabilities, serious chronic illnesses, or pregnancy-related needs, with each case requiring direct sign-off from the Home Office.
The government also plans to tackle overcharging by suppliers through regular audits and strengthened reporting requirements. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated the government inherited Conservative contracts that were "wasting billions of taxpayers hard-earned cash."
She confirmed: "I am ending the unrestricted use of taxis by asylum seekers for hospital appointments, authorising them only in the most exceptional circumstances. I will continue to root out waste as we close every single asylum hotel."
This forms part of a wider effort that has already saved over £74 million in accommodation costs. The government aims to remove all asylum seekers from hotels by the end of this parliament, a move projected to save an additional £500 million.
Recent figures show 36,273 asylum seekers remain in hotel accommodation, a number that has increased since June. Concurrently, the government reports removing or deporting almost 50,000 people since taking office, with raids on illegal working at record levels.
