While immigration and asylum policy are reserved to the UK government, the Scottish government can provide support to asylum seekers under devolved functions, such as education, social care and health.

The Scottish Parliament's Equalities and Human Rights Committee (EHRC) has launched an  inquiry, external  into destitution amongst asylum seekers - which will publish its findings and recommendations in April.

Equalities Secretary Angela Constance said she hoped the inquiry would "shine a light" on the issue of destitution and asylum in Scotland.

The Scottish Refugee Council said it hoped the EHRC inquiry would lead to "concrete actions to support people bearing the brunt of the UK government's hostile environment policy for immigrants".

Image source, bbc

Mr Balfour asks if Ms Millar accepts children's rights not being met in Glasgow

Susanne Millar from the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership says there is evidence of poor practice which she will not defend.

Ms Millar says this is not evidence of systemic failure but of poor practice.

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie says she understands the committee is getting the most negative end of the spectrum of evidence.

Ms McKelvie says if there is any bad practice will it travel across Scotland with dispersal.

Susanne Millar from the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership says she is concerned about some of the evidence because it is the first time she has heard it and that there is a clear escalation process.

Ms Millar says she wouldn't expect to be hearing of problems for the first time at a public inquiry.

"I wouldn't expect to defend practice for the first time at a public inquiry," she says. 

She says she would expect third sector organisations to do her the courtesy of letting her deal with matters in the first instance and that has not happened.

Image source, Asylum Seeker Housing Project

From the Asylum Seeker Housing Project, external : 

We are here to help asylum seekers in Scotland report housing repairs to Orchard & Shipman and to help you follow up with them when repairs are not completed, or have not been done properly.

The Asylum Seeker Housing Project was set up to make a real difference to the housing situation of people supported by the Home Office Compass Contract in Scotland and to carry out housing research on these issues.

We are here for you.

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Natalia Jane Farmer from ASH says she has been supporting Olivia since June.

Ms Farmer says the actual guidance is here and she points to a report from 2012 that is brilliant with guidance in it.

She says Olivia had to wait seven months for housing.

Ms Farmer says it has been disturbing how Olivia has been spoken to in meetings, being called an illegal immigrant was highly disturbing and set a destructive tone.

She says there has been inaccurate information and the way she has been spoken to in meetings has been challenging, it has been a very "grueling time"  and she has had to challenge local authorities.

She says people need an advocate with them and it is still very difficult. 

Labour MSP Mary Fee says the committee have heard that guidance urgently needs updated and asks if anything can be done and if it is "just about money". 

Derek Mitchell from the COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership says there are quite clearly public funds but that things change "on a daily basis". 

Mr Mitchell says "we are talking about a range of devolved services here" and "local authorities are doing quite a lot."

He says "in the main local authorities are doing quite a good job."

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Mary Fee says the Refugee Council received shocking responses from local authorities on their lack of knowledge on refugees and asylum seeking.

Ms Fee says then local authorities says they were surprised by the Refugee Council's response.

Derek Mitchell from the COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership: "I watched with interest what the Refugee Council said."

Mr Mitchell says there is worked to do on the issues and says local authorities have developed practice to look at the legal implication.

He says there is no funding to refresh the guidance. 

Image source, Thinkstock

After fleeing persecution in her homeland, Noreen's claim for asylum in the UK was initially refused.

Alone and with no right to work or receive government support, she told BBC Scotland enduring her pregnancy was "a living nightmare".

"I was so down that when I was seven months pregnant I told the doctor I didn't want the baby - but it was already too late."

"I was crying saying, 'I am so hungry, I don't even have any food'," she said.

Read more here.

Ch Insp Alastair Muir, Police Scotland says those in vulnerability become vulnerable to others and that criminals will prey on people that are not being looked after.

Ch Insp Muir says this is an emerging issue for policing but they are aware of it and officers have been trained across the country in dealing with individuals.

He says there has been a lot of experience gained in Glasgow, therefore the police have been working with colleagues there.

"We're working towards making it safer," he says. 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wrote to Theresa May last month urging her to reverse a decision to cut off a "vital route to safety" for child refugees.

The UK government has come under fire for ending the "Dubs amendment" scheme in March after taking in 350 children.

Image source, PA

Ms Sturgeon said the scheme was "the only reliable and legal route" for unaccompanied child refugees.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the scheme "acts as a pull" factor and "encourages people traffickers".

The Home Office has insisted it is not giving up on vulnerable children and said youngsters would continue to arrive from around the world through other resettlement schemes and the asylum system.

There are an estimated 90,000 unaccompanied migrant children across Europe.

• Key route to the UK for child refugees to close
• Reality Check: Did government go back on its word?
• Who is Lord Dubs?

Image source, bbc

Susanne Millar from the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership says the council have very experienced lawyers with real expertise around asylum seekers.

Ms Millar says on a case by case basis, families with dependent children and where the only issue is destitution, it is not appropriate to accommodate those children in care.

She says this year 31 families have been offered support in Glasgow.

Susanne Millar from the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership says there is an ongoing learning with how to work with refugees.  

Ms Millar says even if refugees have been in Glasgow for a long time require support.

She says there are 147 unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the city.

Last year 19 women were taking from the Calais camp, although more places were offered she says.

Committee convener Christina McKelvie says Glasgow has always been a main dispersal place and the committee is concerned about what happens after dispersal.

Ms McKelive says the Syrian resettlement programme appears to be the gold standard.

Susanne Millar from the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership says she has been involved in asylum and refugee work for eight years..

Image source, bbc

Ms Millar says since the first plane came from Kosovo the city has been transformed.

She says Glasgow is in a position of expertise in terms of refugee and asylum work.

Ms Millar says the support element and links to communities is as important as accommodation and that is being lost in the current contract

Image source, Getty Images

A key route into the UK for children caught up in Europe's migrant crisis is to close after a total of 350 arrivals.

In a written ministerial statement, the Home Office said it would stop receiving children via the so-called Dubs amendment at the end of March.

The law, designed by peer and former refugee Lord Dubs, aimed to help some of the estimated 90,000 unaccompanied migrant children across Europe.

The peer has accused ministers of a "shameful" decision.

Derek Mitchell from the COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership says his job is to manage corporate issues flowing from human rights.

Mr Mitchell says his work is focused on asylum and refugee issues from the past couple of years.

He says he thinks we are up to 1,600 Syrian refugees that have been housed in Scotland.

He says money is being taken out of communities and that is an issue that will have to be addressed by the inquiry.

"Resources are not there anymore," he says, "Destitution is being used as a policy tool," and "It is only going to get worse," he adds.