The UK government has announced that asylum seekers will no longer be permitted to use taxis for medical appointments, as part of a cost-cutting measure. The Home Office currently spends approximately £15.8 million annually on taxi services for asylum seekers.
From February, asylum seekers must use alternative transport, such as buses, regardless of the urgency of their medical needs. However, the government has rejected calls to provide free public transport passes, which campaigners have long advocated for.
The decision follows a BBC investigation revealing instances of excessive taxi use, including a 250-mile journey costing £600 for a GP visit. Long distances often arise when asylum seekers are relocated during ongoing medical treatments, such as chemotherapy.
Organisations like Citizens UK have campaigned for bus passes to reduce reliance on taxis. A pilot scheme for free bus travel was launched in Oxford in November 2024, and Scotland has committed to providing free bus travel by 2026. Currently, asylum seekers are entitled to one return bus journey per week, with contractors arranging taxis for other necessary trips.
The government stated that taxis will be “strictly limited to exceptional, evidenced cases,” such as physical disabilities, serious illnesses, or pregnancy-related needs. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, warned that the threshold might be set too high, risking inadequate transport for vulnerable individuals. He criticised the current system as wasteful, with private contractors profiting at taxpayer expense.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government inherited “wasting billions of taxpayers hard-earned cash” through Conservative contracts. She pledged to end unrestricted taxi use and continue closing asylum hotels, saving £500 million by moving asylum seekers to alternative accommodation like military sites. The government also plans to audit taxi firms to prevent overcharging and has already saved over £74 million in accommodation costs.
