The scheme meant to compensate members of the Windrush era wrongly classed as unlawful immigrants has compounded the injustice, MPs say.
4 years after the scandal first emerged, the overwhelming majority of people that utilized for compensation have but to obtain a penny, a report by the Residence Affairs Committee concluded.
The inquiry discovered "a litany of flaws" within the scheme's design and operation.
"We proceed to make enhancements," the Residence Workplace responded in an announcement.
The Residence Workplace's Windrush Compensation Scheme was launched in 2018 to "proper the wrongs" of a scandal that had seen many 1000’s of British residents denied healthcare, housing or the correct to work.
And a few of these ended up being held detained or deported by immigration officers as a result of the federal government wrongly classed them as unlawful immigrants.
Nonetheless, the expertise of making use of for compensation has now itself develop into an extra trauma, the report discovered.
- Windrush compensation: £30m provided to victims to date, Residence Workplace says
- Windrush victims nonetheless ready for compensation
- Windrush: Some victims died earlier than getting compensation
There are extreme burdens on claimants, insufficient staffing and lengthy delays – and plenty of of these affected "are nonetheless too frightened of the Residence Workplace to use," the committee – a cross social gathering group of MPs which examines authorities coverage in areas together with immigration and safety – mentioned in its report.
4 years on from the Windrush scandal, the committee concluded, very important classes have nonetheless not been discovered.
The scheme comprises lots of the identical bureaucratic insensitivities that led to the Windrush scandal within the first place, the report mentioned.
The Residence Workplace took too lengthy to have interaction at grassroots degree to construct belief within the scheme, it added.
Such delays imply that by September 2021, just one in 5 of an estimated 15,000 eligible claimants had utilized to the scheme and solely 1 / 4 of those had acquired compensation.
The MPs highlighted the truth that 23 people died earlier than receiving any compensation.
The politicians welcomed adjustments made to the scheme in December 2020 to hurry up funds – however mentioned these "had been lengthy overdue" and didn’t go far sufficient.
"It’s really surprising how few folks have acquired any compensation for the hardship they endured by the hands of the Residence Workplace," mentioned Yvette Cooper, who’s chairwoman of the committee.
Glenda Caesar"Pressing motion is required to get compensation to those that have been so badly wronged.
"It’s staggering, given the failures of the Windrush scandal, that the Residence Workplace has allowed a few of the identical issues to have an effect on the Windrush Compensation Scheme too," she added.
The report urges the Residence Workplace to:
- encourage extra of the Windrush era to use for compensation
- guarantee everybody affected is granted some compensation rapidly
- enhance the quantity paid
- assure authorized help for all claimants
- give higher assist to grassroots campaigns
Responding to the report, a Residence Workplace official mentioned: "The house secretary and the division stay steadfast in our dedication to make sure that members of the Windrush era obtain each penny of compensation that they’re entitled to.
"We proceed to make enhancements, corresponding to simplifying the appliance course of, hiring extra caseworkers and eradicating the top date."
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