CONFERENCE MATTERS

Plymouth 2012

Memorial

The South Bedfordshire (34/4) Circuit Meeting (Present: 69. Voting: 67 for, 0 against) is deeply concerned that those seeking asylum in Britain or undergoing the later stages of due legal processes to obtain leave to remain are not allowed to undertake employment or claim benefits. Deliberately making people destitute puts them at risk: open to the whim of those operating black market economies or forced to resort to crime out of desperation.

The Circuit Meeting therefore requests the Conference or the Connexional Team to petition government for changes in legislation in order that people may work (thus contributing to our economy via taxation while also maintaining their skills and dignity) or be entitled to claim benefits if unable to obtain employment. In the meantime, with regard to the current situation, we request the Conference or the Connexional Team to make changes to Methodist policy in order that manses and other property may be used to offer hospitality to those without funds and for other mission purposes (which may not obtain market rent) in keeping with SO 929(2)(iv).

Reply

The Conference thanks the South Bedfordshire Circuit Meeting for raising these matters, as the issue of destitution amongst asylum seekers is one of great concern to the many churches who work with those seeking asylum. An asylum seeker is someone who has left their home country for fear of persecution and has made a claim for protection, but whose claim has not been decided yet. During this period they will normally receive accommodation (often sub-standard) and cash support (£36.62 a week for a single person) while their claim is being investigated. If they are refused, this support is ended for couples without children or single people and they are evicted and left without an income. At this point they may qualify for ‘Section 4 support’ which, provided they agree to return home as soon as the UK government says it is safe to do so, consists of accommodation and a payment card to spend in a limited number of shops. If a person has been waiting for 12 months and has not had their initial case decided, they may request ‘permission to work’, but only take up a job which is included on the list of shortage occupations published by the UK Border Agency.

The UK needs policies to control who has the right to live here and who may receive state support. The UK Border Agency claims that most new applications now receive a decision within 30 days (although there are ongoing concerns about the accuracy of such decisions, many of which are overturned on appeal), and there has been a renewed effort to remove applicants who have exhausted the legal process. However, the current arrangements mean that there are a significant number of people who have not been removed but have insufficient means of support.

Organisations such as the Refugee Council and Church Action on Poverty are supporters of the coalition Still Human, Still Here which campaigns against destitution. They argue that it makes sense for people seeking sanctuary to be given permission to work if they have been waiting for more than six months for their cases to be concluded, or if they have been refused asylum but cannot be returned home through no fault of their own (for example if removals have been suspended due to their home country being unsafe). Allowing people to work will stop them being kept in limbo and allow a small number of asylum seekers to support themselves.

The Methodist Church works on asylum issues largely through the Churches Refugee Network (CRN), which provides assistance for church-based support for refugees and people seeking sanctuary. CRN runs an annual conference and coordinates some lobbying and

campaigning work with the Churches. They would be key partners for the Methodist Church in raising these issues with other Churches and with government.

The Conference therefore encourages Methodists to ask their MPs to sign the ‘Still Human, Still Here’ declaration on permission to work, and asks the Connexional Team to work with the Churches Refugee Network to raise these issues with government and in the Church.

Methodist property is held upon Model Trusts for the purposes of the Methodist Church as set out in Section 4 of the 1976 Methodist Church Act and therefore any use of the premises must be in accordance with the purposes of the Methodist Church. The primary purpose of a manse is for the residence of a minister but where a manse is not required for occupation by a minister the property can be let under Model Trust 16(e) for a rent. Standing Order 929(2)(iv) requires the consent of the Circuit Meeting to be obtained before a manse can be used for any other purpose which is in furtherance or incidental to a purpose of the Church. Model Trust 16(e) provides that a rent or other consideration must be obtained for a letting of model trust property. However the Model Trusts and Standing Orders do not prohibit a Circuit agreeing that a manse can be let at an undervalue or for some other consideration if it is deemed appropriate use of the premises that would further the purposes of the Methodist Church. The Circuit and Local Church also need to recognise their responsibilities as managing trustees to act in the best interest of the Local Church as a charity when making such a decision. Any use of Methodist property must be in accordance with the law and the people residing in the property must have a right to be in the UK as someone seeking asylum. It must be noted that Standing Order 929(5) requires a binding written agreement to be entered into by all parties to the arrangement. The Conference hence confirms that the Model Trusts and Standing Order do allow a Circuit to agree to a manse being used to offer accommodation to those seeking asylum at less than the market rent or for some other consideration. However there must be a binding written agreement with those residing in the property. The Circuit must also be satisfied that the use of the manse in this way would be a furtherance of the purposes of the Methodist Church and is an appropriate use of model trust property, and that the letting at an undervalue is in the best interest of the Local Church as a charity.