Plans to create a reception centre for asylum seekers arriving in Bradford have come under fire from Conservative councillors.

Members of the opposition Tory group on Bradford Council have accused the authority of giving red carpet treatment to asylum seekers who may prove to be bogus, while local residents suffer from poor housing and inadequate schools.

Bradford, in common with all local authorities, must take its share of asylum seekers under new Government legislation. Around 660 are expected to arrive in the city over the next 12 months.

Councillor Margaret Eaton (Con, Bingley Rural), leader of the opposition group, said she understood that the cost of providing accommodation, furniture and decoration could be as high as £3,230 per home for each refugee family.

"Many people from Bradford from all backgrounds are already suffering from poor housing, inadequate schooling and a deteriorating health service but the Labour-run council is prepared at the drop of a hat to roll out the red carpet for hundreds of asylum seekers - many of whom may be bogus," she said.

"Nobody minds that we take our fair share of genuine refugees who face violence and repression. But most will agree that our asylum system is fast approaching meltdown with applications up 50 per cent last year and a backlog doubling to more than 100,000."

A spokesman for the Refugee Council said it was not true to say that "most asylum seekers were bogus" and said 54 per cent of the decisions made in 1999 resulted in asylum seekers being allowed to stay. A further 15 per cent were granted protection on appeal.

The spokesman added: "In general, asylum seekers live in very poor conditions in this country - in filthy, grimy, B&B dumps. I heard of one case where two people were sharing one pair of shoes.

"In some cases they leave behind big houses and luxury, because they are frightened for their safety. They come here, it's a life on vouchers, and it's humiliating."

The Refugee Council does have sympathy, she added, for local authorities who have to find the means to cater for asylum seekers dispersed around the country.

"The Government needs to adequately fund dispersal."

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