The applicant had come to England from Guyana. She married here and had a child, but after her divorce, she was to be removed back to her home country. She applied for emergency housing, but was offered only short term housing and the cost of a flight back to Guyana for herself and her child. She appealed, saying that it might yet take a longer time for any order for her removal to come through.
Held: The claimant was no longer lawfully present in the UK. There was statutory support for the withdrawal of support provided her human rights were not infringed, but the prohibition on support did not extend to her child, and support could be continued where the claimant had not failed to co-operate with attempts at her removal. The decision with respect to the claimant was lawful, but as regards the decision about the child, the local authority had failed to consider the rights of the child’s father, and had obtained no evidence as to the child’s possible future in Guyana. Their s17 assessment was flawed and set aside.
Judges:
Wilson J
Citations:
Times 12-Jun-2003, Gazette 14-Aug-2003
Statutes:
Witholding and Withdrawal of Support (travel Assistance and Temporary Accomodation) regulations 2002 (2002 No 3078) 3(3), Children Act 1989 17
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Citing:
Appealed to – M v London Borough of Islington and Another CA 2-Apr-2004
The applicant asylum seeker had had her application refused, and was awaiting a removal order. She had a child and asked the authority to house her pending her removal.
Held: Provided she was not in breach of the removal order, the council had . .
Cited by:
Appeal from – M v London Borough of Islington and Another CA 2-Apr-2004
The applicant asylum seeker had had her application refused, and was awaiting a removal order. She had a child and asked the authority to house her pending her removal.
Held: Provided she was not in breach of the removal order, the council had . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Housing, Immigration, Benefits, Local Government
Updated: 31 March 2022; Ref: scu.183694
