ASYLUM-SEEKERS face being electronically tagged or kept under satellite surveillance instead of being held in detention centres, under government proposals published yesterday.

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, said that in 18 months it would be possible to fit failed applicants with a tag using satellite technology to allow the authorities to pinpont their location.

The proposal would be far cheaper than building detention centres to house those awaiting deportation.

Mr Blunkett’s ambitious plan to use satellite technology was outlined in a Bill which will also strip benefits from failed applicants who refuse to take a government- paid flight home.

Margaret Hodge, the Children’s Minister, has agreed that if a family is left destitute their children would be taken into local authority care.

The Home Secretary regards his tagging proposals as an alternative to secure removal centres.

He said: “If we can track people, both in terms of electronic tagging and in future satellite tracking, we can avoid having to use that.”

People who would be subject to tagging would be mainly failed asylum-seekers but also those who have “no justifiable claim at all, who we are waiting to remove”, Mr Blunkett said.

The package of measures also includes plans to reduce legal aid to asylum-seekers in an attempt to cut £30 million from the annual £175 million bill. Ministers are also to curb the opportunities for asylum-seekers to challenge decisions in the higher courts.

The Government’s third major piece of legislation to tackle asylum outlines a dual approach intended to deter people from travelling to Britain and stopping failed applicants from prolonging their stay in Britain.

Mr Blunkett said that the Asylum and Immigration Bill was the final phase of asylum reform.

It is also intended to convince the public that the Government has a grip on the issue and prevent far-right parties exploiting ayslum and race in the run-up to the next general election. But the controversial plan to take children into care is not in the Bill, reducing the risk of a major Labour backbench rebellion against the measure.

Legal aid to help asylum-seekers with their claim will be limited to five hours and any extension will be sanctioned only by the Legal Service Commission. There will be no legal aid for asylum appeals unless the Commission rules that the case has merit.

In a further attempt to prevent lawyers and applicants from prolonging cases, a judicial review will be allowed in appeal cases only if a member of the Appeal Tribunal has acted in bad faith.

The Bill ends judicial review of decisions that an asylum-seeker or illegal immigrant must be removed.

Mr Blunkett also said that he wanted to force all airlines to make copies of passengers’ passports and travel documents before they fly into Britain.

But he is still consulting the industry over a move which is aimed at tackling the abuse of those who destroy their documents and make it difficult for immigration officials to verify their stories. Seventy per cent of people claiming asylum at airports and ports currently dispose of or destroy their documents.

In future, immigration officials must take into account when considering an asylum application whether the applicant has any travel documents. An applicant faces two years in jail for failing to provide a good explanation for not having the documents.

In addition to restricting opportunities for applicants to challenge decisions, the existing two-tier asylum appeals system is to be replaced by a single appeal authority.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Constitutional Affairs Secretary, said: “The decision of the single tier of appeal would be final.”

A new offence of human trafficking for non-sexual exploitation is aimed at those people who bring people to Britain to work. It will carry a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail.

Mark Oaten, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, accused the Government of being more obsessed with headlines than with creating a fair and efficient asylum system.

“People want a firm but fair asylum system, not one that uses children as a political tool and removes rights of appeal. These proposals show that the Government is obsessed by headlines and less interested in getting the system of asylum right in the first place.”

MAIN POINTS IN BRIEF

• Electronic tagging or satellite surveillance of failed asylum seekers at risk of absconding or detention
• Benefits ended to failed asylum seekers who refuse voluntary flight home. Destitute families face children going into care
• Legal aid for asylum applications curbed at five hours
• Increases in charges for work permits, student visas and permits to visit families
• No judicial review of asylum appeal and removal decisions
• Two-tier asylum appeal system replaced with one
• Two years in jail for applicants who cannot give good explanation for not having travel documents
• New crime of human trafficking for non-sexual purposes: 14 years in jail
• Immigration officers get power of arrest for bigamy, counterfeiting, and forgery

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