THURROCK Council is asking for the government to cough up more money as it cannot afford to offer help and support to immigrants living in the borough.

Cllr Richard Bingley, the council's Reform leader, has written to minister Jo White, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office, to request that local authorities receive funding for the financial support provided to families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).

NRPF is an immigration status that prevents people from accessing most UK welfare benefits, housing assistance and other public funds. However, they may still be entitled to some services and support, including local authority support for accommodation and subsistence for families with children.

Cllr Bingley says: "In Thurrock, we have seen a rise in NRPF families and the annual unfunded costs rose to over £570,000 last year. We receive no government funding to support this duty and it is a severe burden on our already stretched budgets.

"I have this week written to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office to highlight the issue and request that they cover the cost that we, as a local authority, face and refund Thurrock Council the costs paid out to NRPF families.

"It is not right that local council taxpayers should foot this bill, but under the current system that is exactly what is happening."

Find out more about NRPF via this link: NRPF-Network.