Job bar on refugees `unlawful'

The Government's blanket policy of barring asylum seekers from finding jobs while their requests for refugee status are considered is "unlawful and irrational", the High Court ruled yesterday.

A judge said in four test cases: "The present denial of the possibility of (asylum seekers) supporting themselves must be seen as so draconian as to be outside the powers of the immigration officers or the Secretary of State."

Mr Justice Owen said the policy was irrational because, even though it was aimed at discouraging bogus refugees, it was the genuine who suffered. The judge ordered the Home Secretary and immigration authorities to reconsider the policy.