ASYLUM seekers should not be housed in East Lancashire unless the government pays the bills, it was claimed today.

Councils across the country are likely to be asked to ease the strain on south coast ports and London boroughs which are currently housing thousands of people arriving in Britain hoping to start a new life.

An estimated 180,000 foreign nationals are expected to claim asylum by the end of 1999 and immigration officials face the task of housing them until a decision is made on whether they can stay.

Both Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire County Councils have indicated they would be willing to house some asylum seekers.

But Blackburn with Darwen Tory Coun John Williams says none should be accepted until the government guaranteed that accommodation bills would not have to be paid for by council tax payers.

He said: "To my knowledge we have still received no guarantees that should a Kosovar refugee move from an old people's home where they are accommodated into a council home, the government would pay the £3,000 cost.

"So the question has to be asked, what about the cost of the asylum seekers? If the council has to pay to move them into council homes as well, there will be no money left to pay for Blackburn people who want to move into a council home."

Blackburn with Darwen deputy housing director Gwyneth Sarkar said: "The government has given assurances to those councils who provided accommodation for refugees from Kosovo that it will cover all costs.

"The council has been a party to discussions on how this can best be achieved and sees no reason to doubt that costs incurred as a result of housing the refugees will be fully reimbursed."

She added: "Asylum seekers are not entitled to claim welfare benefits. However the government is making finance available to authorities who provide housing and support.

"Our initial analysis of the levels of finance available is that it would be sufficient to cover all reasonable costs."

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