Labour plans to give young asylum-seekers in Wales £1,600 a MONTH and cash to fight deportation

Labour ministers in Wales have announced plans that could see young asylum seekers in the country receive £1,600 a month and taxpayers’ cash for legal aid to fight deportation. 

The plans, which have been formally sent to Tory Justice Minister Lord Bellamy, are still in the development stage and would need Whitehall approval to go ahead. 

Three Welsh Labour ministers – Jane Hutt, Julie Morgan and Mick Antoniw – are signatories of the letter, which demands that all migrants should get universal basic income without being deprived of legal aid. 

The UK Government spends around £6million a day accommodating migrants across the country in hotels, former military bases and barges. 

Under the Welsh plan, the Government would provide migrants with both a wage and their lawyers’ fees to stop them being deported, reports The Sun. 

Welsh Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt was among those who signed the letter

The plan also says all migrants who are unaccompanied children to have access to the universal basic income scheme as soon as they turn 18. 

The Welsh Labour government has already rolled out a pilot scheme for all those aged 18 who are leaving care to receive £1,600 every month for two years. 

However, there are fears that the devolved government’s plans could be wrecked by the eligibility of legal aid for children in the asylum system as they do not meet requirements for means-testing. 

A means test works out whether a local authority will pay towards your care and looks at how much money you have. 

Speaking to The Sun, James Roberts of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, expressed doubt over this position, adding: ‘Legal aid is rightly means tested.

‘Illegal immigrants should not be allowed to claim this cash.’

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘Last year we spent around £30million on legal aid for asylum seekers and we will respond to the letter in due course.’

A Welsh government spokesperson said: ‘We believe that care leavers have a right to be properly supported as they develop into independent young adults. 

‘Too many young people leaving care continue to face significant barriers to achieving a successful transition into adulthood than many of their peers.

‘In line with our Nation of Sanctuary approach, we want to ensure that unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are supported to rebuild their lives and are not prevented from accessing appropriate Welsh government schemes and benefits to support their integration.’

MailOnline has approached the Labour Party for comment.